Overwhelming Discontent Greets The Role Of Britain In The Abduction Of Nnamdi Kanu

Overwhelming Discontent Greets The Role Of Britain In The Abduction Of Nnamdi Kanu    Just like one among millions of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s die...

Overwhelming Discontent Greets The Role Of Britain In The Abduction Of Nnamdi Kanu 

 

Just like one among millions of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s die-hard followers, the news of his unlawful abduction, sent me through a cycle of three emotions. From shock to sadness and back to simmering anger. Remembering Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s explosive broadcasts, is the needed motivation for overcoming notable puzzles. He repeatedly reminded us about the global conspiracy against the restoration of Biafra. This duplicitous Nigerian regime’s most wanted man, was travelling on a British passport, whilst being kidnapped with remarkable ease from Kenya and eventually flown to Nigeria. It takes inexcusable naivety to assume that this Buhari’s bungling regime carried out this covet and most complex operation single-handedly.

Recall the Nigerian President's earlier statement that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), were going to get ‘‘the shock of their lives’’ when comparing Biafra to a dot. His boastful language was revelatory: it was a meticulously planned abduction which involved international powers’ assurances to get Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by all means.     

 

As angry showdown with Twitter reveals, this regime of Nigeria keeps lurching towards treachery and dictatorship. But the western nations never bothered. Has anyone even considered why Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s kidnapping in a foreign land has not yet ignited the kind of furious protests expected within the British government? Is it not reasonable to expect an uproar in the British or western media too,  considering his (Kanu's) British citizenship status? Even if he was not a British citizen, is it not a condemnable action to take anyone to a country where the person could  potentially face degrading and inhuman treatment? Is it not part of the law of civilised society designed to protect the innocent as well as the guilty, though somewhat differently?    

 

The international community’s odd silence offers clues to the questions above. When you add the British long-standing interest in the so-called ‘Nigeria unity’, you get a fuller picture: their role in this abduction is conspicuously noticed by their silence. Britain can be lukewarm about  Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s outrageous treatment since he is a black man. The British authority may also, trickishly find it easy to plead ignorance of him being tortured, because Nigeria is a police state, skilled at covering up scandalous rights abuse.    

 

Sadly, this conspiracy against IPOB, produces one outcome: the global audience is so far unable to notice that it's leader is indeed the most persecuted freedom fighter today. By ignoring the saying that the devil is in the detail, the mainstream media has a hand in covering the regime’s bloody track record. Frustratingly moreover, the lack of media scrutiny allows the Nigerian despotic regime of Muhammadu Buhari, to conveniently label the IPOB leader, a fugitive terrorist who had ‘jumped bail’ previously. Take for example, the same regime fraudulently avoids going into detail on  how the soldiers stormed Nnamdi Kanu's father’s home in 2017, while he was still on bail. Those soldiers shot over twenty eight (28) people dead, while Nnamdi Kanu himself, narrowly escaped assassination. After that most traumatic incident, to re-appear in their kangaroo court to face trumped up charges would have been suicidal.  

 

Given that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is the thorn in the flesh of the Nigerian-British unholy alliance, extraordinary rendition became their final solution. As an illegal practice, rendition only succeeds when conducted in total secrecy with extensive international collusion. Hence, international law clearly prohibits sending any suspect secretly to be questioned in a country with poor standard for humane treatment of prisoners. The higher risks of abducting the IPOB leader from the United Kingdom, made the choice of Kenya, convenient. African countries are known for being rogue states, conniving to crudely, recklessly and carelessly break international laws.

Little surprise then, that the famous Kurdish leader, Abdullah Ocalan, was abducted from the same Kenya. Britain was afraid of the backlash of removing Idi Amin Dada from power in Uganda, so they used Tanzania to invade the country. In a British Broadcasting (BBC) interview, a British politician retold the story of how the former British Foreign Minister (James Callaghan), used the very decent and remarkably peaceful African President, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, to do their dirty job of toppling Idi Amin. Therefore, the outpourings of discontent over British government’s suspected role in Mazi Nnandi Kanu’s (one of it's own citizens') abduction, is not far-fetched.   

 

Most right-minded people now find Nigeria regime’s charges against the IPOB leader, both sickening and insane. Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, rightly asked why the same energy and resources used to abduct Mazi Nnamdi Kanu could not be deployed to the actual insecurity hotspots in Nigeria. Under Buhari’s watch, jihadi terrorists of Fulani extraction, have been running amok in Northern  uNigeria, killing, kidnapping and raping while this same government makes IPOB it's consuming security priority. 

The reluctance to clampdown on Islamic-inspired violence, clearly confirms the widely held view that Buhari’s regime sponsors the ongoing jihadi terrorism onslaught, bent on Islamising Nigeria. And this is what Mazi Nnamdi exposed, turning him to ‘state enemy’ number one.   

 

Presently, there is this cauldron of suppressed anger over the extensive collusion to kidnap this uniquely intelligent leader. His staunchest followers globally, are impatiently waiting for the British government’s reaction. In order to prevent any impending political storm, more than mere ‘consular assistance’ is what is needed in respect of such a high profile political prisoner. Writing in the Foreign Affairs, the ex-USA Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Campbell, precisely warned all stakeholders to avoid botching this case. In their tactical silence over this unspeakable rendition of it's own citizen, the British government CONFESSES GUILT. 

 

Written by G. E. Anukwe

Edited by Chukwuemeka Okechukwu

 

For Family Writers Press International