By Ademola Adekusibe
September 26, 2025
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has disclosed that governors of the South East region are in close talks with relevant federal authorities to secure the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Otti made the disclosure on Thursday in Umuahia while addressing journalists after a meeting with community leaders and elders who had staged a peaceful protest at the Abia State Government House demanding Kanu’s immediate release.
According to him, discussions are ongoing and assurances have been given at different levels, but details are being kept confidential so as not to jeopardize the sensitive process.
“I want to assure you that as his governor, I am in the forefront of ensuring he comes back home. All the South East governors are united in this pursuit and we are engaging with the Federal Government and other relevant stakeholders. I may not share the full details now, but we are working on it,” Otti said.
The governor emphasized that the release of Kanu is not just a political or regional matter but one that could help douse tension and restore peace and stability across the South East. He added that the collective position of the governors is to pursue dialogue and constructive engagement rather than allow the situation to escalate further.
The call for Kanu’s release has been a recurring demand by several Igbo socio-cultural organizations, traditional leaders, and civil society groups, who insist that his prolonged detention has fueled insecurity and unrest in the region. Thursday’s protest in Umuahia is the latest in a series of appeals directed at President Bola Tinubu to intervene and bring the matter to a close.
Otti urged residents of the region to remain calm and patient, expressing optimism that the ongoing engagements would soon yield results.
Nnamdi Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021, when he was re-arrested and extradited to Nigeria. He is facing trial on charges bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism.
