“How My Health Was Compromised in DSS Custody” — Nnamdi Kanu to NMA

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has alleged that his health has deteriorated under the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS, due to what he described as falsified and negligent medical practices.

In a letter dated September 29, 2025, and addressed to the President of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Kanu detailed what he called “grave concerns” over the management of his health while in detention. The correspondence, titled *“Grave concerns regarding my medical treatment and health management in DSS custody – Request for urgent intervention, protection of independent practitioners, and immediate release of NMA medical assessment report”*, was made public on Wednesday.

Kanu wrote that his health, which he said was already weakened following his alleged abduction in Kenya, has worsened due to inconsistent and unreliable medical treatment in DSS custody. He accused officials of manipulating his medical records and warned that untreated conditions, including tinnitus-induced sleep deprivation, posed severe risks to his life.

He called on the NMA to investigate the alleged manipulation of his medical records and to protect independent practitioners involved in his case, particularly Emeritus Professor Martin Aghaji, whom he credited with lifesaving intervention. Kanu further demanded the immediate release of the NMA medical team’s assessment report dated September 22, 2025, which the Federal High Court had ordered to be filed within four days.

“This letter is intended not only to bring my condition to the formal attention of the NMA but also to invoke the ethical responsibilities of the medical profession under both Nigerian law and international human rights standards,” Kanu stated.

The IPOB leader urged the association to act urgently, insisting that his health and life remain at risk under DSS custody.