Biafra agitator Ralph Uwazuruike has accused Nnamdi Kanu of influencing violence in the South-East and allegedly encouraging the recruitment of Igbo youths into violent activities from prison.
Uwazuruike made the claims in a video shared on YouTube, where he expressed concern over the continued loss of young lives in the region, alleging that many are being drawn into violent operations linked to loyalty to Kanu.
The former leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) called on Igbo leaders and Ohanaeze Ndigbo to intervene and caution Kanu against any actions that could further escalate violence in the region.
Uwazuruike, who said he does not support violence, questioned why individuals involved in separatist violence could not embrace amnesty and rehabilitation, similar to repentant insurgents and bandits in other parts of the country.
His comments come amid circulating social media videos showing armed and masked individuals claiming allegiance to IPOB and threatening renewed violence in the South-East if Kanu is not released.
The development also follows recent reports of internal leadership changes within IPOB, including Kanu’s replacement of some key members of the group’s Directorate of State while in detention.
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BACKSTORY:
The latest accusations add to the long-running tensions within the Biafra agitation movement, particularly between Ralph Uwazuruike and Nnamdi Kanu, who have often differed in strategy and leadership over the years.
Uwazuruike, founder of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), has consistently advocated a less confrontational approach compared to Kanu’s Indigenous People of Biafra, which has been linked to sit-at-home orders and violent clashes in parts of the South-East.
Kanu has remained in detention since 2021 over terrorism-related charges, but his influence within IPOB has continued, with supporters frequently demanding his release. In recent weeks, videos of armed, masked individuals claiming loyalty to IPOB have resurfaced online, threatening fresh violence in the South-East.
Uwazuruike’s comments appear to be a reaction to those developments, as concerns grow over renewed unrest and the continued involvement of young people in separatist-related violence across the region.
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