Senator Ned Nwoko has asserted that the prolonged detention of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu is a primary driver of unrest in Nigeria’s South-East, and called for his release as part of broader reforms to restore peace in the region.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Nwoko urged the federal government to pursue the dual actions of state creation and Kanu’s release, saying:
“Nnamdi Kanu is being held unjustly. His incarceration is the main reason for the continued unrest in the South-East.”
He also proposed creation of Anioma State, carved from Delta State as a sixth state in the South-East, as a measure to correct perceived regional inequities. According to him:
“So, what needs to be done … is the creation of a new state … and then the release of Nnamdi Kanu. By the time you do these two things … peace will return to the South-East.”
Nwoko acknowledged that the initiative has gained traction at the National Assembly, citing the setup of a committee and public hearings in Enugu. He said: “The National Assembly has set up a committee … we presented our case … I am almost certain that we will be chosen.”
Kanu, who has been detained since June 2021, is facing terrorism-related charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Nwoko’s remarks highlight ongoing tensions and pressures in the South-East over justice, governance, and identity politics — issues that continue to shape discourse ahead of 2027.
