The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has accused an operative of the Department of State Services (DSS) of physically attacking its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, in what it described as an attempted assassination inside DSS custody.
In a statement issued on Saturday and shared by Kanu’s wife, Uchechi Okwu-Kanu, the group alleged that a newly assigned DSS officer assaulted Kanu inside his cell at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Friday.
According to IPOB, the situation escalated until other DSS personnel intervened and forcibly removed the offending officer, who was seen kicking Kanu during the scuffle.
The pro-Biafra group claimed the attack formed part of a wider plot to eliminate Kanu under the guise of a “misunderstanding” with a DSS operative.
“Information reaching IPOB leadership this night is that one of the new DSS agents assigned to MNK attacked him in the DSS headquarters with the intention to kill Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The situation led other DSS officers to drag their colleague out of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s cell as he was seen kicking him,” the statement read in part.
IPOB condemned the alleged assault and warned that it would not tolerate any harm to its leader. The group demanded that the DSS take full responsibility for Kanu’s safety while in custody.
“The action of this DSS officer is unacceptable. The officer must face the consequences of his actions, and the DSS must ensure nothing happens to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in their custody—unless they are ready for another confrontation with IPOB worldwide,” the statement added.
The development comes amid ongoing legal proceedings against Kanu, who is facing charges bordering on terrorism and treasonable felony. Tensions between IPOB supporters and security agencies have persisted since his re-arrest and detention by the Nigerian government.
