Chief Azuta Mbata, President‑General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, publicly urged the Federal Government to free Nnamdi Kanu, the detained head of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Mbata framed Kanu's continued imprisonment as a source of collective suffering for the Igbo nation. The appeal was delivered during an address by Mbata, though the venue and exact date were not specified in the source. By invoking the notion of a shared burden, Mbata linked the fate of one political figure to the broader emotional state of an entire ethnic community. The statement underscores the longstanding tension between the federal authorities and groups advocating for Biafran self‑determination. Ohanaeze, as a prominent Igbo socio‑cultural organization, has historically positioned itself as a voice for the community's concerns. Mbata's demand adds pressure on the government, which has kept Kanu in detention without public clarification of the legal basis. The call reflects ongoing calls from various Igbo leaders for a resolution to Kanu's case, which they argue affects national cohesion.
Mbata's portrayal of Kanu's detention as a "burden" on
