Bashir Ahmad Calls Advocates for Nnamdi Kanu’s Release Enemies of the Nation

Bashir Ahmad, the former Special Assistant on Digital Communication to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has strongly opposed calls for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Ahmad, in a statement posted on his X account on Sunday, described Kanu as a terrorist and insisted that any individual or group advocating for his release should be considered an enemy of the nation.

Ahmad stated that he would only support Kanu’s release if the separatist leader undergoes proper rehabilitation and publicly renounces his derogatory views about Nigeria and its citizens. He pointed out that Kanu had previously referred to Nigeria as a “zoo” and its citizens as animals deserving of brutal treatment, views that Ahmad called deeply offensive.

“I can only advocate for his release when he is truly rehabilitated, so he stops seeing Nigeria as a zoo and the citizens as animals that deserve to be brutally killed,” Ahmad stated.

Kanu’s Detention and Public Debate

The continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in custody since his re-arrest in June 2021 on charges related to terrorism, has sparked ongoing public debate. Some groups have called for his unconditional release, arguing that it could help foster peace in the southeastern region of Nigeria. However, Ahmad’s stance remains firm: anyone calling for Kanu’s release without a change in his attitude towards Nigeria should be considered a “sworn enemy of this country.”

Ahmad’s statement adds to the contentious discourse surrounding Kanu’s future, which continues to divide opinions across the country.