Nigeria convicts Biafran separatist leader for 'terrorism'

A court in Nigeria on Thursday convicted Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of a separatist group, on charges related to terrorism.

Kanu founded the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) separatist group that called for independence from Nigeria.

"His intention was quite clear as he believed in violence. These threats of violence were nothing but terrorist acts," Judge James Omotosho said at the Federal High Court in Abuja.




The conviction came after a long-running trial, with the case going back to comments made in 2015.

What did the judge say to Kanu?

Kanu was not in the courtroom when the judge read out his ruling, having thrown him out for what he described as unruly behavior.

The separatist leader had dismissed his lawyers and refused to call defense witnesses, claiming there were no charges against him.

He claimed the court did not have jurisdiction to try him.

Judge Omotosho said Kanu boasted that "no court can convict him," which he described as "a direct affront on the power of the courts."

Kanu's IPOB has also been accused of violently enforcing so-called "sit-at-home" protests that shut down local markets, schools and travel following the separatist leader's arrest in 2021. IPOB has said criminal gangs are responsible for the violent enforcement of the sit-ins.

According to a Lagos-based geopolitical consultancy — SBM Intelligence — cited by the Associated Press, the economic protests cost the country 7.6 trillion naira ($5.3 billion, €4.5 billion) and resulted in at least 700 deaths.

Prosecutor Adegboyega Awomolo asked the court to impose the death sentence.

"He has demonstrated no respect for the administration of justice. His conduct, even within the court, has been marked by arrogance. The punishment prescribed for the offenses in counts 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 is death penalty. This court has the power to do so and with respect must do so," Awomolo said.

Who is Nnamdi Kanu?

Kanu founded the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a banned group, to advocate for the independence of the southeastern region of Nigeria.

"The right to self-determination is a political right. Any self-determination not done according to the constitution of Nigeria is illegal," the judge said.

Kanu and the IPOB alleged mistreatment of the Igbo ethnic group who make up a large part of the population of Biafra.

The separatist leader used his London-based Radio Biafra to call for independence of the oil-rich state, but drew the attention of authorities in 2015 when he said "we need guns and we need bullets."

He was arrested later that year during pro-Biafra protests. He denied that the statement was a literal call for arms.

In 2017, he skipped bail and fled the country after the military raided his home.

Why is there a Biafra independence movement in Nigeria?

Calls for Biafran independence hark back to a short-lived independent state that seceded from Nigeria in 1967 and lasted until it was recaptured in 1970.

The period is known as the Nigerian Civil War and led to between 500,000 to 2 million deaths from starvation among Biafrans.

This itself stemmed from Nigeria's time as a colony of the British Empire, with the country being pieced together from several pre-colonial states — predominantly Hausa and Fulani Muslims in the north, and Yoruba and Igbo Christians in the south.

Following independence, economic and political instability stoked ethnic tensions, with violence being perpetrated against the more prosperous Igbo minority. Between 10,000 to 30,000 Igbo people in the northern region were massacred, with up to 1 million forced to flee to Igbo-dominated regions.