Kanu was arrested on Sunday, June 27, and arraigned before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court Abuja today June 29.

Ohaneze Ndigbo in a statement released by Okechukwu Isiguzoro, it’s Secretary-General, said Kanu’s refusal to listen to Igbo leaders’ advice led him to his present predicament. The group advised the Nigerian government to handle the IPOB leader’s case carefully in order to prevent violent revolts from his followers.

The statement in part reads “Nnamdi Kanu’s refusal to adhere to the advice of Igbo leaders, elders, and political leaders is the outcome of what had befallen him, he made a lot of enemies especially those that would have saved him and Federal Government will never lose grip on him again. We don’t think that any Igbo leader will stick out his/her neck for him, his re-arrest will eventually bring peace and stability to the region and averted another civil war that was raging on. Federal Government should handle the situation carefully because his large followers of IPOB wouldn’t resort to violent revolts, his trial should be strictly based on the laws of the land, they shouldn’t kill him because it will destabilise the entire country.”

The highest Igbo socio-cultural organisations, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Igbo National Council (INC) and the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU) on Tuesday called for a halt to the influx of Northern youths into the southeast states.

They accused security agencies of complicity in the free movement of the Almajirai, which they said makes a mockery of the interstate travel ban.

Ohanaeze President in Anambra State, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, said it was left for the people to protect themselves since the Federal Government has “failed to effectively enforce its order.”

Okeke-Ogene said: “The Federal Government is not ready to protect us. We must take our security in our hands. No other person can do that. We’re ready and we warn those without a mission in the state to find alternative abodes. This state can’t contain us and them. We also enjoin the vigilante groups to commence regular combing and security of all the forests of our communities. INC will do everything possible to protect the citizens and territories of the Igbo nation-states,”

Speaking at a function in Obosi, Anambra State, Ngige stated that the recent threat issued by IPOB members to attack politicians of the South-East geopolitical zone if they were sighted anywhere outside the country, is not in anyway directed to him.

He said “IPOB was registered by the late President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Dr Dozie Ikedife and other Igbos as a non-violent group. What is going on now in the group is not part of the work plan . I visited the United States of America recently, and I was welcomed by IPOB members. They knew I fed and protected them when I was in office as governor. I have said it several times that Biafra cannot be achieved the IPOB way. The Igbo should stop shouting marginalisation. They should stand up and assert themselves to be counted. Nigeria belongs to all of us. Equity favours the Igbo to produce the next president of the country, but they must work hard and position themselves for it. We should stop political sentiments. Politicians don’t give power based on sentiment and emotion. President Muhammadu Buhari has said he is favourable to an Igbo president. We must support him and associate with the APC. Nobody will give you president of Nigeria in your bedroom”.