By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has announced the indefinite suspension of the Office of the National Leader and the position of Director of Radio Biafra, both previously held by detained separatist leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The decision was reached during a meeting of the movement’s leadership on June 17, amid growing concerns over alleged attempts by individuals and groups to exploit the suspended office to carry out activities contrary to the organization’s objectives.
IPOB also effectively dismantled its information arm, Radio Biafra, by suspending the office of its director, a position previously occupied by Kanu.
In a statement issued by the Head of the Directorate of State (DOS), Chikadibia Edoziem, the group said the suspension takes immediate effect and will remain in force until further notice.
According to the statement, the move is aimed at safeguarding the movement’s operations, protecting IPOB members worldwide, particularly those in the South-East, and preventing security breaches that could threaten the region.
The DOS warned that anyone claiming to be the National Leader of IPOB or acting on behalf of the suspended office would do so at their own risk, stressing that such actions would not be recognized by the organization.
“Any crime or criminal activity undertaken in the name of the suspended Office of the Leader shall not be attributed to IPOB but solely to the individual or individuals responsible for such actions,” the statement said.
The group further stated that IPOB would no longer accept responsibility for the actions of individuals or groups who do not hold active positions within the movement or who have not been authorized by the Directorate of State.
The leadership explained that the decision forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen and reposition the Biafran self-determination movement, making it more responsive to its stated objectives.
IPOB emphasized that the movement was founded and nurtured collectively by Biafrans in the diaspora and was not established by any single individual. It added that no person, regardless of status or position, has the authority to dissolve the Directorate of State, which it described as the apex governing institution of the organization.
The DOS cited several reasons for the suspension, including intelligence reports alleging meetings between operatives of Nigeria’s security agencies and Kanu in detention, concerns over monitored communications, and claims that some communications from prison had allegedly contributed to arrests and deaths of IPOB members.
The group also expressed concern over what it described as plans by certain individuals to establish a new militia capable of triggering another wave of violence in the South-East, as well as alleged efforts to dissolve the Directorate of State and weaken the IPOB structure.
Reaffirming its commitment to non-violence, the Directorate of State stated that the struggle for self-determination must remain peaceful and should never become a basis for causing suffering, hardship or death among the people it seeks to represent.
“We affirm that the pursuit of our inalienable right to self-determination is peaceful and non-violent and must never become a basis for causing harm, hardship, or death to the very people we seek to liberate from the injustices and atrocities perpetrated by the Nigerian system,” the statement added.
The development comes amid reports of internal disagreements within the IPOB hierarchy and speculation about attempts to establish a parallel separatist structure under the umbrella of the movement.

The Federal Government has intensified its citizen diplomacy policy with two major interventions aimed at protecting Nigerians abroad, including the evacuation of citizens from South Africa amid rising xenophobic attacks and the signing of a prisoner transfer agreement with Ethiopia to facilitate the return of Nigerian inmates.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said the initiatives underscore President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to ensuring that no Nigerian is abandoned, regardless of where they reside.
According to the Minister’s Special Assistant on Communication and New Media, Dr. Magnus Eze, about 1,000 Nigerians have so far registered for voluntary evacuation from South Africa ahead of the June 30 deadline set by the Nigerian government.
The first batch of 258 returnees was airlifted to Nigeria and received at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos on June 11, 2026, by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye.
Speaking on the situation in South Africa, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the Renewed Hope Administration had directed that Nigerians facing threats to their safety and wishing to return home should do so before the expiration of the evacuation window.
She strongly condemned the wave of xenophobic attacks reportedly carried out by anti-migrant vigilante groups, accusing them of looting businesses, invading homes, and intimidating foreign nationals.
“This xenophobic action is causing reputational damage,” the minister said, lamenting that the violence undermines the Pan-African ideals championed by South Africa’s late anti-apartheid icon, Nelson Mandela.
“The late Madiba worked so hard to project South Africa as a bastion of Pan-Africanism, and these actions have severely damaged that legacy,” she stated.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu highlighted the human impact of the attacks, noting that many Nigerians have built families and businesses in South Africa, with some children knowing no other home.
She also disclosed that South Africa had set aside a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding signed with Nigeria in October 2025 on early warning mechanisms against xenophobic violence, reportedly arguing that those who signed the agreement lacked the authority to do so.
The minister noted that several African countries, including Ghana, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, have also commenced evacuating their citizens from South Africa.
On the economic implications of the crisis, Odumegwu-Ojukwu pointed out that more than 120 South African companies currently operate freely in Nigeria, including MTN Nigeria⁠�, MultiChoice Nigeria⁠�, Stanbic IBTC⁠� and Protea Hotels⁠�.
She questioned why Nigerians in South Africa were facing hostility despite the cordial business environment enjoyed by South African firms in Nigeria, adding that the government may be compelled to review its options if the situation persists.
The minister stressed that Nigeria remains committed to diplomacy and the rule of law, explaining that any retaliatory measures would have to follow constitutional processes involving the National Assembly.
Nigeria, Ethiopia Sign Prisoner Transfer Agreement
In a separate development, the Federal Government has signed a Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement with Ethiopia, paving the way for 98 Nigerians currently serving prison terms in Ethiopia to complete their sentences in Nigeria.
The inmates are being held at the Kaliti and Aba Samuel maximum-security prisons in Ethiopia.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the agreement followed years of engagement after concerns were raised over the inmates’ living conditions, including poor feeding, inadequate healthcare, restricted visitation rights, limited legal assistance, and language barriers.
She revealed that four Nigerian inmates died while negotiations for the agreement were ongoing.
The minister dismissed as false a viral report claiming that 136 Nigerians were incarcerated in Ethiopian prisons, insisting that the agreement specifically covers 98 inmates.
She also rejected suggestions that the prisoners came from a particular ethnic group or region of the country.
“A lot of them are from the Southeast. There are also those from the Southwest and the South-South. Crime has no ethnicity,” she said.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu further clarified that the transfer does not amount to a pardon, noting that a key provision of the agreement prevents Nigeria from granting amnesty or presidential pardon to any transferred inmate without the consent of the Ethiopian government.
“The government is determined to bring the inmates home to serve their sentences with dignity without exposing them to inhuman conditions,” she added.
The minister said both the evacuation exercise and the prisoner transfer arrangement reflect the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad and promoting a citizen-centred foreign policy, adding that efforts are ongoing to assist other Nigerians facing challenges in different parts of the world.

The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives on Wednesday delivered a scathing assessment of the state of the nation, accusing President Bola Tinubu’s administration of failing to address worsening insecurity, deepening economic hardship, and mounting threats to democratic institutions.

The opposition lawmakers also alleged that the government is prioritising political calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections over the urgent challenges confronting Nigerians.

Addressing journalists at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, House Minority Leader, Fred Agbedi, said Nigeria was experiencing one of its most difficult periods since the return to democratic rule in 1999.

According to him, persistent insecurity, rising poverty, and growing public frustration have left the country in a precarious situation.

“Nigeria is bleeding, Nigeria is confused, and Nigeria is being deliberately pushed to the brink by a government that has elevated 2027 electioneering above the lives and welfare of citizens,” Agbedi declared.

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He said the caucus convened the press conference “with a heavy heart but with unshaken resolve to speak truth to power,” stressing that silence in the face of the nation’s challenges would amount to complicity.

The lawmakers argued that nearly three years into the Tinubu administration, Nigerians were yet to witness meaningful improvements in security and economic conditions despite repeated assurances from government officials.

Security Concerns

A major focus of the briefing was the recent death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, who was reportedly abducted alongside his wife in Katsina State before dying in captivity.

The caucus described the incident as a tragic reflection of the deteriorating security situation across the country and called for a transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

“That a General of the Nigerian Army, who once commanded troops and defended this nation, could be kidnapped alongside his wife and later declared dead under unclear circumstances is a grave indictment of a failed state. It is a national embarrassment,” Agbedi said.

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The lawmakers noted that the incident occurred amid a wave of attacks by bandits, terrorists, and criminal gangs across several parts of the country, including the North-West, North-Central, and parts of the South-East.

They lamented that security personnel, traditional rulers, and ordinary citizens have increasingly become targets of kidnappers and armed groups despite ongoing military operations.

“If a General is not safe within the borders of our nation, then who truly is?” Agbedi asked.

He further expressed concern over the growing vulnerability of community leaders and traditional rulers who have become frequent targets of criminal elements.

“Our security is in the mud. Yet, the political class is busy rehearsing new political dance steps, seemingly unbothered,” he added.

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The caucus urged President Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to immediately present a comprehensive security strategy capable of addressing the multifaceted threats confronting the country.

“At a period in our nation’s long-drawn battle with these insurgents, victory was close by, especially with the presence of mercenaries on the frontlines. Today, no one is sure what the strategy, if any, is,” Agbedi stated.

The lawmakers also called for improved welfare for security personnel, enhanced intelligence gathering, and a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s security architecture.

They expressed concern over the continued captivity of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State, describing the situation as another example of the state’s inability to guarantee the safety of its citizens.

“As we speak, schoolchildren and their teachers abducted in Oyo State remain in captivity. Their crime? Going to school in Nigeria,” Agbedi said.

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The caucus demanded an immediate and coordinated rescue operation, warning that prolonged captivity could expose the victims to grave dangers.

Democracy and Judiciary

The opposition lawmakers also raised concerns over what they described as troubling developments within the judiciary, particularly a Federal High Court judgment ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five opposition political parties.

According to Agbedi, the ruling raises serious questions about the health of Nigeria’s democracy and could undermine political pluralism ahead of future elections.

“This judgment, coming only months before the country’s general elections and after a subsisting Court of Appeal decision on the same matter, is not intended to serve justice. Instead, it appears to be a deliberate ploy to engender judicial chaos weaponised to destabilise the polity,” he said.

The Bayelsa lawmaker described the judgment as “rascality taken too far,” arguing that it sets a dangerous precedent capable of weakening democratic participation and shrinking political space.

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He questioned why submissions reportedly made by INEC, indicating that the affected parties had satisfied legal requirements through electoral victories in previous elections, were allegedly disregarded.

The caucus further alleged that opposition parties have increasingly faced institutional barriers, including delays in the registration of new political parties and attempts to frustrate emerging political coalitions.

“From external manipulations and executive meddlesomeness that kept old political structures polarised, to attempts to truncate new alliances through institutional bottlenecks such as the refusal to register new political parties, the whole goal has been to muscle all credible opposition out of the 2027 contest,” Agbedi alleged.

While welcoming the intervention of the Court of Appeal in halting implementation of the Federal High Court judgment, the lawmakers urged democratic stakeholders to remain vigilant.

Economic Hardship

Turning to the economy, the caucus painted a bleak picture of conditions facing Nigerians, citing inflation, rising food prices, declining purchasing power, and widespread hardship.

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The lawmakers argued that the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira—key reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration—had imposed severe burdens on citizens without adequate social protection measures.

“From Sokoto to Enugu, from Borno to Lagos, the story is the same: hunger, killings, kidnappings, collapse of the naira, collapse of hope,” Agbedi said.

The opposition lawmakers accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidency of prioritising politics over governance.

“Yet what preoccupies the ruling party and the Presidency are 2027 endorsement rallies, defections, re-election strategies, and town hall meetings to discuss tenure security,” he added.

They challenged President Tinubu to temporarily suspend political activities linked to the next election cycle and focus squarely on addressing the nation’s pressing challenges.

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“President Tinubu must suspend all 2027 political activities and declare a six-month National Security and Economic Recovery Plan,” Agbedi said, urging the President to “lead or leave.”

Recommendations and Call to Action

As part of its recommendations, the caucus called for:

• An independent and transparent investigation into the abduction and death of Major General Rabe Abubakar;
• Immediate efforts to secure the release of the abducted Oyo schoolchildren and their teachers;
• Urgent reforms within the security sector;
• Intervention by the Chief Justice of Nigeria in controversies arising from conflicting court judgments on political parties; and
• Stronger efforts by INEC to safeguard democratic competition ahead of the 2027 elections.

Agbedi warned against what he described as attempts to weaken opposition voices through judicial and institutional means.

“The attempt to kill opposition parties through judicial ambush, to ignore mass killings while chasing a second term, and to normalise the abduction of children is a declaration of war against Nigerians,” he said.

He vowed that opposition lawmakers would continue to hold the government accountable through constitutional and legislative means.

“We will not be silent. We will not be intimidated. We will use every legislative instrument to hold this government accountable,” he stated.

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Addressing Nigerians directly, Agbedi urged citizens not to lose faith in democracy despite the country’s present challenges.

“To Nigerians, do not despair. 2027 will not be decided in Aso Rock or by compromised courts. It will be decided by you, the people.

“The opposition parties will stand with you. The opposition will not be muscled out. Nigeria will be rescued.”

The briefing was attended by House Minority Whip Mansur Soro, Deputy Minority Leader Abdussamad Dasuki, and the leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress caucus in the House, Afam Ogene.

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Grace Joseph, the widow of the commercial bus driver, Joseph Okpe, who was allegedly beaten to death by the Nigerian Air Force officers along the Oshodi–Apapa Expressway in Lagos, has accused the military of abandoning her family, saying she has not heard from its representatives since they paid a condolence visit and promised support.

PUNCH Metro reports that the driver died a few hours after he was allegedly assaulted by a group of officers following a minor traffic incident involving their vehicle.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, confirmed that all officers involved had been detained and that the family had been visited.

“The Nigerian Air Force is aware of the reported incident and is deeply saddened by the loss of life,” Ejodame said.

“Upon receiving information on the matter, the personnel suspected to be involved were immediately taken into custody, and the case is currently under investigation by the appropriate civil and military authorities.

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“The NAF has also extended its condolences to the family of the deceased and visited them to express sympathy and support during this difficult time,” the statement added.

However, in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Wednesday, the grieving mother of three said the Air Force had failed to fulfil the assurances given to her family during the condolence visit.

“He was the breadwinner. The Air Force officers came to visit us, and the way they spoke gave me hope. I was encouraged by what they told us.

“But after they left, everything changed. I have not heard from them again. My husband was the one feeding and taking care of the family, and now he is gone.

“When they came that day, they spoke in a way that made me happy. But after they left, they changed. I don’t know why. I have not seen them again, and I do not know the reason,” she said.

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Speaking in a shaky voice, the mother of three said her children had continued to ask about their father.

“The children have been asking about their father, especially the youngest one. Since the day my husband died, he has been crying because he misses his father.

“My youngest child is five years old. My daughter is 10 years old, and my first child is 14 years old.”

She added that during the condolence visit, Air Force representatives handed her N200,000 to assist with feeding the children.

“They gave me N200,000 when they came. They said it was for me to use and feed the children. Since then, I have never received another call from them.

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“I feel very sad about it. I really do.”

The bereaved widow appealed to the government to intervene and support the welfare and education of her children.

“What I want the government to do for me is to help me train my children and support their education. Their father was the one responsible for them and took care of all their needs.

“I want the government to take responsibility and help ensure that the children can continue their education and have a future.”

Recalling the events that led to her husband’s death, the widow said the tragedy came as a devastating shock to the family.

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She said, “When the time came, I had to explain because it was shocking to me. I was so surprised because I never expected this kind of thing.

“On the day it happened, both of us left the house at the same time. I was going to visit one of my sisters, while my husband had gone to work.

“That night, I received a call after 8 p.m. The woman who called asked if I was Joseph’s wife. I said yes, and she told me that my husband had been involved in an accident. I was shocked.

“I immediately called my husband’s elder brother and informed him that someone had called to say my husband had been involved in an accident.

“My husband’s brother asked where I was, and I told him I was at home. I then went to my sister’s place.

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“The caller told me to come with my family, so I went to my husband’s sister and brother in Oshodi. When I got there, I explained everything to them, and we started looking for a vehicle to take us to the hospital.

“At that time, it was already late, and we could not find transportation. People were unwilling to come out because of the late hour and fear of being stopped by the police.

“The caller told me my husband was at a hospital in Mushin. Later, the doctor’s phone number was sent to me, and I forwarded it to my brother.

“My husband’s brother and I began communicating with the doctor. We pleaded with him to take care of my husband because we could not get there immediately due to the late hour.

“About three to five minutes after we spoke with the doctor, he called back and told me that my husband had died.

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“The following morning, I went to the hospital with some people who assisted my family and me. When I got there, I saw my husband lying on the bed.”