“ESN Stopped Terrorists From South-East; Look At Killings In South-West” — IPOB Slams Sunday Dare Over Comments on MNK

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has criticised remarks attributed to presidential aide Sunday Dare concerning the conviction of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, the group was responding to a report titled *“Kanu’s terrorism conviction different from Igboho’s activism — Tinubu’s aide.”* The report quoted Dare, an aide to Bola Tinubu, as drawing a distinction between Kanu’s conviction and the activities of Yoruba activist Sunday Igboho.

IPOB rejected the comparison, describing it as misleading and politically motivated. The group maintained that Kanu’s prosecution should be viewed within a broader historical context of political figures who were prosecuted during periods of agitation.

The statement cited the late Obafemi Awolowo, convicted in 1963 for treasonable felony, as well as international figures including Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, all of whom faced imprisonment before gaining global prominence.

IPOB also referenced former African leaders such as Nnamdi Azikiwe, Kwame Nkrumah and Julius Nyerere, noting that they encountered legal challenges during their political careers.

The group alleged that ethnic bias influenced Kanu’s trial, pointing to the roles of the presiding judge, prosecutors and the Attorney-General of the Federation. It questioned the fairness of the proceedings.

IPOB further claimed that the Eastern Security Network (ESN), established by Kanu, helped prevent widespread attacks in the South-East, contrasting this with ongoing security concerns in parts of the South-West.

The organisation reiterated its commitment to pursuing self-determination for Biafra, stating that continued prosecution of its leader would not weaken its resolve.