Sokoto prison inmates reportedly declare Nnamdi Kanu as president

Fresh reports from the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Sokoto indicate that some inmates have declared Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as their “president,” according to Daily Sun.

Kanu was recently transferred to the Sokoto facility after the conclusion of his high-profile trial, during which Justice James Omotosho sentenced him to life imprisonment. He was convicted on seven terrorism-related charges, including allegations linked to secessionist activities, membership of a proscribed group, destruction of public infrastructure, and the importation of an unregistered radio transmitter.

Before his transfer, he had been held by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja throughout the judicial process.

According to the newspaper, his entry into Sokoto Prison reportedly triggered excitement among inmates, who collectively announced him as the “Prison President.”

Witness accounts describe how prisoners rushed toward him for a handshake, referring to him as “a man who speaks the truth without fear.”

A senior official of the facility, who requested anonymity, said: “Kanu has practically turned his cell block into a mini Radio Biafra. Even those who once opposed him now sit quietly to listen. The surprising part is that nobody forces them—his words pull them.”

The official added that Kanu’s presence has significantly altered the environment within the prison: “Whether people agree with his ideology or not, nobody denies that he talks boldly, fearlessly, and with deep conviction. That alone has made him a prominent figure in this place.”

(SUN)