By Jane Okafor, Abuja
Entrepreneur Chigozie Nnabugwu has stirred controversy after urging the Federal Government to execute the embattled leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, claiming that such a move would restore peace and normalcy in Nigeria’s South-East.
Nnabugwu made the remarks during an appearance on News Central TV’s Breakfast Xtra programme, where he argued that insecurity in the Southeast geopolitical zone had declined following the arrests of key separatist figures.
According to him, the arrest of Kanu and the subsequent detention of Finland-based separatist agitator Simon Ekpa contributed significantly to reducing violence in the troubled and violence – prone region.
“I concur with that. Let me be sincere with you. The time they arrested Nnamdi Kanu, it was like up and down. The time they arrested Simon Ekpa, it reduced by about 50 per cent. The time Nnamdi Kanu was convicted, it reduced to about 10 per cent. That’s what we are battling now,” he said.
Nnabugwu went further by calling on the government to execute Kanu, insisting that it would mark a turning point in addressing insecurity in the South-East.
“If Nnamdi Kanu is dead today, if the government of Nigeria will kill Nnamdi Kanu, trust me, normalcy will start coming. That’s all every Igbo man prays for,” he said.
The comments have generated debate, given the sensitivity surrounding Kanu’s detention and the protracted agitation for the creation of the Republic of Biafra.
While acknowledging the efforts of security agencies, Nnabugwu argued that military operations alone would not end the violence. He called on religious leaders, community leaders and intellectuals to intensify public enlightenment against misinformation and violent extremism.
“I want all these organisations in Nigeria, the Catholic bishops, Pentecostal pastors and educated people, to come on air and educate our people on the consequences of what we are doing. That is the only way to achieve this.
“The military are not the Holy Spirit that is everywhere. Bombs are still killing people in my community. The military have done a lot, but these people keep planting them again. The only way to solve this problem is to let every Igbo man know the truth and stand by the truth,” he added.
Kanu, leader of the proscribed IPOB, has been in detention since he was brought back to Nigeria from Kenya in 2021. He was convicted in November 2025 on terrorism-related charges linked to his separatist campaign and is currently serving a life sentence at a Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Sokoto, the City of the Caliphate
The IPOB leader has remained at the centre of legal and political controversies, with his supporters continuing to challenge his conviction and conditions of detention.
Earlier this month, reports emerged that Emeritus Professor Martin Aghaji, a medical expert said to have conducted an independent assessment of Kanu’s health, was arrested at his residence in Independence Layout, Enugu State.
Kanu’s lawyer, Chief Maxwell Opara, alleged that the arrest occurred on July 3 and claimed the professor’s medical findings contradicted the official report presented by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Authorities have yet to publicly respond to the allegation.
