Friday, June 19, 2026 -The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has announced the indefinite suspension of the Office of the Leader and the position of Director of Radio Biafra, both formerly occupied by Nnamdi Kanu.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday, June
18, by the Head of the Directorate of State (DOS), Mazi Chikadibia
Edoziem.
He said the move was taken in the interest of the
organisation’s security, stability and long-term objectives.
Edoziem added that the measure is intended to protect
members of the movement across the world, particularly those in the South-East,
while also guarding against potential security threats.
The statement said: “Considering the enormous responsibility
placed upon the leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra to safeguard our
operations and mission, protect IPOB family members worldwide, especially those
in Biafraland, and prevent any security breach or emergency in Biafraland, the
Directorate of State of IPOB has suspended indefinitely and with immediate
effect the Office of the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra and the
position of Director of Radio Biafra previously held by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu until
further notice.”
The group stated that the suspension was designed to stop
individuals and organisations from claiming authority under the leadership
office to carry out activities not sanctioned by IPOB.
It maintained that any criminal act committed in the name of
the suspended office should not be linked to the organisation.
The statement added: “To halt and checkmate individuals and
groups not affiliated with IPOB who claim to derive legitimacy from the
existence of the now-suspended Office of the Leader of the Indigenous People of
Biafra to carry out actions that conflict with IPOB’s mission statement, any
crime or criminal activity undertaken in the name of the suspended Office of
the Leader shall not be attributed to IPOB, but solely to the individual or
individuals responsible.
“IPOB shall henceforth not be held accountable for the
actions of individuals or groups not holding any active position within IPOB,
or for actions taken by persons not authorised by the Directorate of State to
act on behalf of the Indigenous People of Biafra self-determination
movement.”
The Directorate revealed that the decision followed
deliberations at a full meeting of the Directorate held on June 17, 2026, where
members concluded that the suspension was necessary for the collective interest
of Biafrans.
The statement stressed that IPOB was founded and sustained by Biafrans in the
diaspora and should not be viewed as the creation of any single
individual.
The group also rejected any attempt to dissolve the
Directorate of State, describing such claims as invalid.
According to the statement, “ab initio null and void” was
the status of any purported dissolution of the Directorate, and members as well
as the public were urged to disregard such declarations.
Explaining the reasons behind the decision, the DOS cited intelligence reports,
concerns over communications allegedly linked to arrests and fatalities among
members, and fears of plans to establish an armed group capable of fuelling
renewed violence in the region.
The statement continued: “Having reviewed the intelligence
report from the IPOB M-Branch regarding the meeting held a couple of weeks ago
between operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), officers of the
Nigerian Intelligence Agency and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in Sokoto Prison.
“Being fully aware that every visitor, activity and
communication involving Mazi Nnamdi Kanu within and outside Sokoto Prison is
being monitored by the DSS. Mindful that certain unguarded communications from
Sokoto Prison to individuals in Biafraland have resulted in unnecessary arrests
and the de@ths of IPOB family members;
“Cognisant of the fact that there is an ongoing plan by
certain individuals to establish a new militia through which another round of
violence may be unleashed in Biafraland. And knowing that the foundation has
been laid for the eventual dissolution of the Indigenous People of Biafra
movement through the purported dissolution of the Directorate of State.”
The Directorate reiterated its commitment to non-violent
advocacy and insisted that the campaign for self-determination must not
endanger the people it seeks to represent.
“We affirm that the pursuit of our inalienable right to
self-determination is peaceful and non-violent and must never become a basis
for causing harm, hardship or death to the very people we seek to liberate from
the injustices and atrocities perpetrated by the Nigerian system,” the
statement added.
The DOS said that, in fulfilment of its responsibilities, it
had resolved to keep the Office of the Leader suspended until a further review
is conducted.
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