Amid Nnamdi Kanu’s detention, U.S. representative John James has renewed calls for the IPOB ledaer’s release.
Addressing the House of Representatives on Thursday, the Michigan lawmaker framed Kanu’s ongoing detention as part of a broader pattern of religious persecution against Christians in Nigeria.
James highlighted H.Res. 1321—a resolution he introduced on May 22, 2026—which presses the Nigerian government to guarantee that all judicial proceedings involving Kanu strictly align with the nation’s constitution and global human rights standards.
Meanwhile, The House Foreign Affairs Committee is still considering the resolution.
Speaking at the podium, James labelled Nigeria as the scariest location on Earth to be a Christian, stating that tens of thousands of Christians have been slain since 2019.
James said the killings formed part of a sustained pattern of religiously motivated violence by Islamist jihadists that the Nigerian government has ignored or enabled.
He said, “Since 2019, tens of thousands of Christians in Nigeria have been slaughtered as part of a sustained pattern of religiously motivated violence by Islamist jihadis ignored or enabled by the Nigerian government.”
The US lawmaker added that insurgent factions, such as Boko Haram, carry out operations without any effective pushback from Nigerian authorities.
Directing attention to Kanu, the lawmaker characterized the IPOB leader as a courageous voice targeted in what he called a sham judicial process for opposing the violence.
He argued that Nnamdi Kanu detention, with the IPOB leader currently serving a life term on what he deems unfounded terrorism charges, should end through either a fresh trial that respects constitutional rights or his unconditional release.
In addition, he warned that continued US financial support for Nigeria could not go unchallenged.
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Backstory…
Kanu was sentenced to life in prison on November 20, 2025, by a Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice James Omotosho, following his conviction for terrorism.
He is currently being incarcerated at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja following his arrest in Nairobi, Kenya in 2021 and subsequent transfer to Nigeria.
The resolution James is advocating for cites a July 20, 2022, decision by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary arrest, which said Kanu’s arrest breached international human rights duties and urged his release, along with appropriate sanctions.
