There will be no lockdown in the Southeast today over the court appearance of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, the group said in a statement on Wednesday.
In a statement by its Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, IPOB urged members and friends in Abuja and its environs to show solidarity.
It asked security operatives to refrain from infringing on the rights of those who would be in court.
The statement reads in part: “We wish to inform Biafrans, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom that our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will be in court tomorrow (today) in Abuja.
“We, therefore, urge Biafrans living in Abuja and its environs to come out en masse to solidarise with our leader.
“Meanwhile, there will be no lockdown tomorrow (today) in any part of Biafra land as a result of the court appearance.
“Biafrans resident in Biafraland, as well as visitors to Biafraland, are free to go about their lawful businesses without fear of molestation or intimidation.
“We have not asked or authorised anybody to monitor or enforce any lockdown. Again, there will be no lockdown in Biafraland for tomorrow’s (today’s) court appearance of our leader.
“Only Biafrans and friends of Biafra in Abuja and its environs are encouraged to be at the court premises.
“As a non-violent movement, we urge everyone to remain peaceful and law-abiding in all their conduct.
“Security operatives should also refrain from infringing on the fundamental rights of people who come to cheer our leader.
“We all know that our leader is not being persecuted because of any crime other than his fight for our collective freedom.
“Therefore, we owe him a duty to stand by him until this darkness is over. We are all together in it.
“We commend the legal team of our leader for their untiring efforts to defend our leader who is innocent of the charges preferred against him.
“We urge all Biafrans to keep praying for our leader, and the full restoration of Biafra Republic.”
Kanu is on trial on terrorism and treasonable felony charges before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
He has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since he was brought back to Nigeria.
