The family of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has disclosed that a medical team has arrived at the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja to perform an emergency ear surgery on him.
Kanu’s younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, told Vanguard that the medical team was waiting for the DSS to grant them access to the IPOB leader, who has been in solitary confinement since June 2021.
He said that the DSS medical unit had recommended urgent ear surgery for Kanu about two weeks ago.
Kanu was allegedly abducted in Kenya and extradited to Nigeria to face charges of treason and terrorism.
He had previously been granted bail by a Federal High Court in Abuja in 2017, but he fled the country after soldiers invaded his home in Abia State.
He was declared wanted by the Nigerian government and his trial was adjourned indefinitely.
However, he was rearrested and brought back to Nigeria on June 29, 2021.
He has since been remanded in the custody of the DSS, despite several court orders and international appeals for his release and fair trial.
His lawyers and family members have also complained of being denied access to him or being subjected to stringent conditions by the DSS.
Many Nigerians and groups have expressed concern over Kanu’s health and human rights, as well as the security situation in the South East region, where IPOB is agitating for a separate state of Biafra.