Biafra: Why I Ran Away From Nigeria Like Mandela – Nnamdi Kanu

The leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, says he ran away from Nigeria like Nelson Mandela because President Muhammadu Buhari sent the Nigerian military to his house to kill him.

Naija News reports that Kanu made this statement during a live broadcast via Radio Biafra in London, United Kingdom on Saturday, February 2.

This online news platform recalls that the IPOB leader escaped from Nigeria after the military invasion of his community in Abia state military exercise code-named; “Operation Python Dance II” in September 2017.

After the development, Kanu resurfaced in Israel in October 2019, where he continued his agitation for the Republic of Biafra.

However, criticisms greeted his stay in Israel, with many saying he should have faced the army as a “Biafra” leader rather than running away.

Responding to the criticism on Saturday, the IPOB leader said he ran away because he did not have any weapon to face armed military men who stormed his house, noting that he fled to Israel because it is the safest place for him to stay alive and achieve Biafra republic.

His words: “I want to ask those that criticise me about what they have done in their life.

“Did you know that Nelson Mandela ran to Nigeria for safety during his time?

“I ran away because Jubril (Buhari) sent the military to my house to come and kill me and they expected me to stay and confront them, I’m unarmed just as IPOB members are unarmed group.

“No one in Nigeria has done what I have done. I came home and I confronted the army, I went to their court, I was unlawfully detained, I went home, conducted a rally and they sent their army to come and kill me.

“Nnia Nwodo, Okezie Ikpeazu, Obiano and Umahi were the ones that signed and brought the army to kill me.

“Yes, I fled to Israel because it is the safest place for me and I needed to stay alive and achieve Biafra republic. Tell those who said that I ran away to read their history book, they will find out that all the popular human rights activists, both dead and alive ran away when it’s the best time to,” he added.

Naija News reports that Kanu is leading a group seeking secession from Nigeria. The group has since been proscribed by the Nigerian government.