Heavy Security Presence in Sokoto as Nnamdi Kanu Is Transferred to Custodial Centre
A significant security operation has been launched at the Sokoto Custodial Centre after Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was transferred to the facility. The development follows his sentencing on Thursday by the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Justice James Omotosho handed him a life imprisonment verdict on terrorism-related charges.
Justice Omotosho ordered that Kanu be moved to what he termed a “protective prison,” arguing that the Kuje Custodial Centre—previously attacked during a major jailbreak—was no longer suitable or secure enough to house a high-profile inmate like Kanu. The directive triggered immediate administrative actions that culminated in his relocation to Sokoto on Friday.
In Abuja, Kanu’s lawyer, Alloy Ejimakor, confirmed the transfer but expressed concern that the move placed his client hundreds of kilometres away from his legal team, family members, and supporters. Ejimakor urged Ndigbo to remain calm, describing the situation as politically sensitive and emotionally charged.
Meanwhile, although Sokoto prison authorities declined to officially confirm his arrival, unusual activity noted during the day suggested that the transfer had indeed taken place. Residents living near the facility reported witnessing heightened security presence unlike anything previously observed. Armed personnel were stationed at strategic positions within and around the custodial premises, while a full truck of soldiers was seen entering the compound, a move residents labelled “uncommon and unusually tense.”
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A local resident who requested anonymity told Saturday PUNCH, “We saw soldiers entering in trucks this evening. The security here has never been this tight.” The Nigerian Correctional Service spokesperson, Jane Osuji, later confirmed that Kanu remained in government custody but refused to disclose his precise detention location due to its sensitive nature.
Kanu’s wife, Uchechi Okwu-Kanu, publicly acknowledged the transfer through a post on X, writing that her husband had “arrived at Sokoto prison.” She criticised supporters who circulated the information online before she was officially notified. Activist Omoyele Sowore also alleged that the transfer had been conducted “secretly,” warning that the relocation posed additional risks to Kanu’s safety.
In a separate reaction, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu appealed for calm, calling the development “unexpected” and urging members of the public, especially those from the South-East, to avoid actions that could escalate tensions. She stressed that resolving Kanu’s case would require collaborative efforts from political, traditional, and religious leaders across the region.
The decision to move Kanu to Sokoto has provoked sharp criticism from several Igbo socio-cultural and advocacy groups. Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Igbo National Council, and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) collectively rejected the life sentence, describing the ruling as selective justice.
Ohanaeze, through its spokesperson Ezechi Chukwu, argued that the judgment represented a major setback for justice and threatened to further destabilise the South-East. The President-General, John Azuta-Mbata, urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene and pursue a political solution. The group reiterated its longstanding position that Kanu’s detention was contributing to insecurity and radicalisation among youths.
Chilos Godsent of the Igbo National Council described the ruling as an element of “ethno-political warfare,” calling for a presidential pardon. The Ohanaeze Youth Wing also condemned the sentencing as an assault on justice, accusing federal authorities of selective persecution. MASSOB leader Uchenna Madu similarly rejected the verdict, calling the judgment politically influenced.
Nnamdi Kanu’s legal and political troubles stretch back to 2015, when he was first arrested on charges including treasonable felony. After jumping bail and fleeing Nigeria, he was re-arrested in Kenya in 2021 and returned to the country under contentious circumstances.
The current transfer marks a new phase in his detention, one accompanied by fierce debate, heightened security, and widening political implications. As the situation continues to develop, the government’s handling of the case remains under national and international scrutiny.