Nnamdi Kanu community bursts with joy after court judgment
The Eziama Afara-Ukwu community in Umuahia, the home of Nnamdi Kanu, burst into joy on Thursday following the announcement of his acquittal by the Abuja Court of Appeal.
Mr. Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), had been on trial since October 2015 for an alleged crime of treason and other charges.
He was released on bail in April 2017 after 18 months in detention.
He later fled the country after soldiers attacked his residence in Umuahia in a military operation, dubbed Operation Python Dance, targeting the banned IPOB.
He was however rearrested in June 2021 in Kenya and extradited to the country to resume his trial.
The head of IPOB was taken into custody by the State Security Service until the court released him on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that youths, men, women and children from its community went in ecstasy to Mr. Kanu's family home when news of his release broke .
Shouts of "Owo-woo", a common refrain to celebrate and rejoice in a pleasant and remarkable development in Igboland, praised the atmosphere.
The women brought white powder, which they shared with everyone within the grounds of his father's palace.
The palace which had hitherto seemed desolate, especially after the death of Mr. Kanu's parents in 2021, spontaneously electrified in joyful celebration.
In addition, the atmosphere in the community, which was also in a calm and somber mood, suddenly became charged.
The visibly ecstatic young men then unfurled local drums and intensified the celebration around the village.
The crowd danced enthusiastically, singing songs of freedom and thanksgiving to God.
Grand Alliance All Progressives vice-governor candidate in Abia, Obinna Ichita, drove to the village amid jubilation.
He spoke to reporters who were in the community to monitor people's moods.
Mr. Ichita was happy with the court's decision.
"I have always recommended a political solution to resolve Kanu's case.
"You can see the wild jubilation that continues," he said, adding that the development would activate the restoration of lasting peace and security in the Southeast.
Mr. Ichita, who represents the Aba North and South States constituency in the Abia Legislative Assembly, said he believed Mr Kanu's incarceration had contributed to security breaches in the south- is.
"I am of the view that Mr. Kanu is part of the solution and not part of the problem," he said.
According to him, Mr. Kanu can offer concrete ideas to solve the problem of inequality, injustice and marginalization of certain parts of the country.
“Now is the time for us as a country to dig deeper into the issues he stood for so that we can begin to enshrine fairness, fairness and justice,” the lawmaker said.
Furthermore, the general vice-president of the community, Benjamin Ohaeri, and a former general president of the community, Ikechukwu Ndubueze, captured the vibe of the community in separate interviews with journalists.
They said that God had answered their prayers, adding that the joy of the people knew no bounds.
They said the community has been worried and depressed since Mr. Kanu's incarceration.
They said they were acquitted by the court's judgment, adding that they were "convinced that Kanu's hands are clean".
A cleric, Israel Okechukwu, said joy and happiness had vanished from the community since Mr Kanu's ordeal began.
“He is our illustrious son and prince of Afara-Ukwu,” he said, adding that his release would bring lasting peace to Igboland.
All who spoke urged young people to be peaceful and careful in their celebration and to avoid violence and acrimony.
(NAN)
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The Eziama Afara-Ukwu community in Umuahia, the home of Nnamdi Kanu, burst into joy on Thursday following the announcement of his acquittal by the Abuja Court of Appeal.
Mr. Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), had been on trial since October 2015 for an alleged crime of treason and other charges.
He was released on bail in April 2017 after 18 months in detention.
He later fled the country after soldiers attacked his residence in Umuahia in a military operation, dubbed Operation Python Dance, targeting the banned IPOB.
He was however rearrested in June 2021 in Kenya and extradited to the country to resume his trial.
The head of IPOB was taken into custody by the State Security Service until the court released him on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that youths, men, women and children from its community went in ecstasy to Mr. Kanu's family home when news of his release broke .
Shouts of "Owo-woo", a common refrain to celebrate and rejoice in a pleasant and remarkable development in Igboland, praised the atmosphere.
The women brought white powder, which they shared with everyone within the grounds of his father's palace.
The palace which had hitherto seemed desolate, especially after the death of Mr. Kanu's parents in 2021, spontaneously electrified in joyful celebration.
In addition, the atmosphere in the community, which was also in a calm and somber mood, suddenly became charged.
The visibly ecstatic young men then unfurled local drums and intensified the celebration around the village.
The crowd danced enthusiastically, singing songs of freedom and thanksgiving to God.
Grand Alliance All Progressives vice-governor candidate in Abia, Obinna Ichita, drove to the village amid jubilation.
He spoke to reporters who were in the community to monitor people's moods.
Mr. Ichita was happy with the court's decision.
"I have always recommended a political solution to resolve Kanu's case.
"You can see the wild jubilation that continues," he said, adding that the development would activate the restoration of lasting peace and security in the Southeast.
Mr. Ichita, who represents the Aba North and South States constituency in the Abia Legislative Assembly, said he believed Mr Kanu's incarceration had contributed to security breaches in the south- is.
"I am of the view that Mr. Kanu is part of the solution and not part of the problem," he said.
According to him, Mr. Kanu can offer concrete ideas to solve the problem of inequality, injustice and marginalization of certain parts of the country.
“Now is the time for us as a country to dig deeper into the issues he stood for so that we can begin to enshrine fairness, fairness and justice,” the lawmaker said.
Furthermore, the general vice-president of the community, Benjamin Ohaeri, and a former general president of the community, Ikechukwu Ndubueze, captured the vibe of the community in separate interviews with journalists.
They said that God had answered their prayers, adding that the joy of the people knew no bounds.
They said the community has been worried and depressed since Mr. Kanu's incarceration.
They said they were acquitted by the court's judgment, adding that they were "convinced that Kanu's hands are clean".
A cleric, Israel Okechukwu, said joy and happiness had vanished from the community since Mr Kanu's ordeal began.
“He is our illustrious son and prince of Afara-Ukwu,” he said, adding that his release would bring lasting peace to Igboland.
All who spoke urged young people to be peaceful and careful in their celebration and to avoid violence and acrimony.
(NAN)
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble endeavour.What's Your Reaction?
