Nigerian government accused leaders of Nnamdi Kanu on Friday Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) and its military wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), for some violent attacks in Lagos and other parts of the country during the #EndSARS protest in October 2020.

Abubakar Malami, the Minister of Justice, said that Mr. Kanu, through his online broadcasts, was the instigator of the large-scale destruction of public property during the #EndSARS protest, especially in Lagos, as well. than in the south-eastern and south-south regions.

AGF spoke to reporters in Abuja about updated investigations into Mr. Kanu and another separatist, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho.

He said Kanu created the ESN, an armed wing of the IPOB, to carry out “subversive activities” against Nigeria.

It has always been known that the violent activities of the IPOB are limited to the south-east, where the ESN violently enforces a home siege order on Mondays, and to the south-south region.

Friday would be the first time that major violent attacks have been linked to the group outlawed outside the two regions.

Mr Malami said the head of IPOB, who is currently on trial on an amended charge of seven counts in the Federal High Court in Abuja, desecrated and looted the Oba from Lagos Palace under cover. of the demonstration against police brutality #EndSARS in Lagos in October 2020.

The internet was inundated with video clips and photos of the invasion and looting of the palace by those seen as thugs who hijacked the #EndSARS protest during this time

Some marauders took the Oba’s office staff, shoes, and other office supplies.

The Oba himself, Rilwan Akiolu, was rescued and evacuated from the palace by security agents.

“The EndSARS protests of October 2020 played into Nnamdi Kanu’s sinister plans, according to which he seized the protests through subversive and inciting online broadcasts and actively ordered and directed attacks on staff and facilities of security, ”Malami said on Friday.

He added: “There have been several IPOB / ESN attacks and destruction (arson) of public and private property during the EndSARS and Biafra unrest across the country, particularly in the South East and South South regions. , in particular the Oba Palace in Lagos where twelve (12) apartments were completely looted and vandalized.

He blamed IPOB / ESN for similar attacks in Lagos.

“Lagos State DNA and Forensic Center, City Hall Race Course, First Bank Branch Lagos, Lagos State Public Works Commission, Nigeria Port Authority (NPA), Marina, Lagos, High Court Igbosere, Lagos, were all burned, among other heinous crimes committed. “

He added that “the country house of the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, was set on fire, more than one hundred and fifty (150) buses were set on fire at the Lagos bus station, the house of the senator. Ndoma Egba in Calabar Municipal, Cross River State, was completely looted and vandalized.

Mr. Malami blamed the group for 10 attacks in the three southern regions of the country.

“Following these broadcasts, members of the IPOB attacked and killed security agents and set fire to police stations, correctional centers, INEC offices, bus stations, Oba’s palace in Lagos, banks, hospitals, shopping malls and vehicles, among others, ”AGF alleged.

Mr Malami said the press conference was aimed at informing Nigerians of the findings of an investigation by the ad hoc presidential committee that has been set up to investigate the causes of the widespread violence in the south-eastern region of Nigeria. , following the re-arrest and repatriation of Mr. from Kenya to Nigeria last June.

Giving a list of prominent Nigerians allegedly killed by ESN agents on the orders of Mr. Kanu, AGF named the gruesome murder of All Progressives Congress (APC) leader Ahmed Gulak on the 30th. May in Owerri, Imo State.

He highlighted other violent killings including: Obi 1 from Okwudor Autonomous Community, Eze E. Anayochukwu Durueburuo and Eze Sampson Osunwa from Ihebineowerre Autonomous Community as well as the murder of Chike Akunyili, who was the widower of the late Dora Akunyili, and eight others.

Background

Separatist Mr. Kanu, who was released on bail in April 2017, fled the country after the army invaded his home in Afara-Ukwu, near Umuahia, Abia state, in September of the same year, a situation according to which one of his lawyers, Alloy Ejimakor, described as the “self-preservation rule”.

A judge later revoked his bail for dropping his trial and ordered his trial to be separated from the rest of the co-defendants.

While the trial of the other defendants has progressed, that of Mr. Kanu has been blocked since 2017.

On June 29, 2021, Federation Attorney General Abubakar Malami announced that Mr. Kanu had been re-arrested and brought back to Nigeria to continue his trial.

He said the head of the IPOB had been “pulled over” days earlier, but did not give details.

Although there has been no official disclosure of where and how Mr. Kanu was arrested, relatives and lawyers of the head of IPOB have described how he was “kidnapped” in Kenya under controversial conditions.