The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, shunned his parents’ burial on Friday, February 14, raising questions if the decision of the controversial secessionist was taken to avoid a rearrest by the Nigerian authorities for jumping bail.
NewsOne Nigeria understands that the parents of the IPOB leader, late HRH Eze Israel Okwu Kanu and his wife late Ugoeze Sally Nmeme Okwu-Kanu were buried on Valentine’s day, Friday, February 14, 2020.
This burgeoning online news platform reports that ahead of the burial ceremony, Kanu threatened to kill the children of the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai and that of the Commissioner of Police in Abia State, Ene Okon, if any IPOB member is injured or killed during the burial ceremony of his parents.
NewsOne Nigeria recalls that before Kanu disappeared from Nigeria sometime in September 2017, he was being prosecuted on charges bordering on treasonable felony instituted against him as a response to his agitation on the IPOB platform for the secession of an independent Republic of Biafra from Nigeria.
Kanu disappeared from Nigeria following soldiers’ invasion of his home in Afara-Ukwu, near Umuahia, Abia State, in September 2017. Kanu, a dual citizen of Nigeria and Britain, is believed to be currently residing in the United Kingdom.
Ahead of his parents’ burial ceremony, the IPOB leader had vowed to return to Nigeria, where he said he would kill the children of Buratai and thereafter submit himself for arrest if any member of his group is injured or killed on February 14 during the burial ceremony in his father’s compound.
Following Kanu’s threat, some online news platforms had reported that the IPOB leader was in Nigeria and had lodged in an undisclosed hotel in Abia state ahead of the burial ceremony. The reports sighted on several online news platforms, also had a picture of Mr Kanu supposedly arriving Nigeria ahead of the burial ceremony.
However, a fact check, shows that the picture above was taken when Kanu arrived the European Parliament building in Brussels, Germany on Tuesday, September 10, 2019, after accepting the invitation of a few Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and not his arrival in Nigeria for his parents burial ceremony in Afaraukwu as there was no sign of Nnamdi Kanu in Nigeria as at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, burial ceremony which held at Isiama Afaraukwu community in Umuahia North LGA of Abia State attracted the presence of the Senate Minority leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who signed Kanu’s bail bond in 2017; Senator Victor Umeh, former National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); former Anambra State and Atiku Abubakar’s Vice Presidential candidate in the 2019 election, Peter Obi; former Speaker Abia State House of Assembly and onetime Umuahia/Ikwuano Federal House of Representatives member, Rt. Hon. Stanley Ohajuruka; Tony Ukasoanya; Abia State PDP pioneer chairman; Chief Empire Kanu and among others.
Prince Emmanuel Kanu, the younger brother of Nnamdi Kanu, stood in the gap for the elder Kanu at the burial ceremony which was graced by Traditional rulers from Okpobo, Nembe, Ogoni, Ijaw, Isoko and Kwale in Rivers, Delta State, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, as well as IPOB members.
