Nigerian Jewish Leader Visits Nnamdi Kanu in Sokoto Prison, Calls for Release

A Nigerian Jewish cleric, Kohen Daniel Onuoha, has visited the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, at the Sokoto Correctional Facility, where he called for Kanu’s immediate and unconditional release.

Onuoha, the spiritual leader of the Peace of Yahweh Synagogue and founder of Eastern Judaism, described the visit on January 10, 2026, as an act of solidarity and moral support from Jewish communities in Nigeria’s former Eastern Region, also referred to as Biafraland.

He was accompanied by his wife and associates, whom he said represented Jewish congregations that observe the Ten Commandments.

Speaking after the visit, Onuoha said the engagement reflected years of continued prayers and spiritual commitment to Kanu’s freedom.

“For more than five years, we have maintained daily prayers and sacrifices without interruption,” he said, adding that the prison visit was part of his broader advocacy for justice and human rights.

The cleric urged the international community, including legal experts and human rights organisations, to examine the legal basis of Kanu’s continued detention.

He argued that the prosecution was flawed, claiming it relied on repealed laws and lacked proper legal grounding.

Onuoha also rejected the classification of IPOB as a terrorist organisation, insisting that neither Kanu nor the group had carried out acts of violence.

According to him, Kanu’s prosecution arose from his public advocacy and expressions related to self-determination and criticism of political leadership, rather than any proven criminal conduct.

He maintained that speech alone could not lawfully justify imprisonment without evidence of violence, and he called for Kanu’s release in the interest of the rule of law.

During his remarks, Onuoha commended United States President Donald Trump for what he described as efforts by his administration to protect Christians in Nigeria. He appealed for wider international involvement in addressing what he termed the marginalisation and repression of Biafrans.

He concluded by calling on Kanu’s supporters and rights advocates to remain calm and peaceful, stressing that continued non-violent engagement was necessary while pursuing justice through lawful means.