We Are Monitoring The Situation To Ensure Nnamdi Kanu's Rights Are Respected

The Abia state government on Friday said it was actively monitoring the situation with the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to ensure that his fundamental human rights, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic, are respected.

Kanu, who is currently under trial at a Federal High Court in Abuja, hails from Afaraukwu, a community in Umuahia, the capital of Abia State.

In a statement released and signed by Commissioner for Information of the state, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, the state government said it has remained in touch with Kanu’s “family members, other relevant persons, and institutions, and receive regular updates through them on the situation.”

”The Abia State Government is confident that the judiciary will ensure a free and manifestly fair trial for him and others as they remain innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.

We, therefore, wish to call on all citizens and visitors to continue to be law-abiding and avoid any activity that might lead to a breakdown of law and order. ‘‘The statement read

The state government, however, kicked against the ”sit-at-home” order issued by the IPOB members to protest the detention of their leader.

While Government will not compel anyone wishing to sit at home for any reason whatsoever not to do so, as citizens have freedom of movement under the extant Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we wish to strongly advice that nobody should also compel or enforce any sit at home order from any non-state actor as doing so does not serve any known interests of the people of the state.

Furthermore, compelling our children to stay away from school can only serve the interests of the yet-to-be properly identified persons who may not want to see us make progress as a people.

Similarly, our traders sitting at home at a time they need to work very hard to sustain their families and create wealth especially in this era of COVID-19 impacted global economy will obviously not serve any development interest of our hardworking citizens.

All law-abiding citizens and visitors are therefore called upon to go about their normal businesses without fear of molestation as adequate security has been provided to ensure their safety. Parents and guardians are also called upon to ensure that they monitor the activities of their children and wards with a view to ensuring that they do not engage in unlawful activities that will put them in harm’s way. ”