SUNTV Global Channel – News Report | April 25, 2026
The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has sent a personal message of appreciation to former United States mayor Mike Arnold, praising his public comments on Nigeria’s security situation and his stance on Kanu’s case.
The message, released on Saturday through Kanu’s legal counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, was said to have been delivered exactly as instructed by the IPOB leader.
In the statement, Kanu commended Arnold for what he described as a courageous effort to highlight what he called “the truth” about him and the IPOB movement.
“Dear Mike, I am writing to acknowledge your remarkable effort in shedding light on the truth about me and my people. Your commitment to the truth is commendable… I often wonder how different things would be if more voices like yours had spoken up sooner,” Kanu stated.
He further assured Arnold of continued backing from both himself and IPOB, adding a spiritual note of goodwill.
“You can count on the support of the Indigenous People of Biafra and myself. May Elohim guide and protect you always. Thank you,” the message concluded.
The development comes amid ongoing legal and political tensions surrounding Kanu’s prolonged detention, which continues to attract both local and international attention.
IPOB Reacts, Praises US Attention on Nigeria
In a separate statement, IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful applauded Arnold and some members of the United States Congress for what the group described as a “bold intervention” regarding alleged violence in Nigeria.
The group claimed that international attention was validating long-held warnings by its leader and renewed its demand for a United Nations-supervised referendum on Biafra’s independence.
“Your bold stand has pierced the veil of international silence,” IPOB said, while alleging widespread killings in parts of Nigeria including the Middle Belt, Benue, Plateau, Southern Kaduna, and others.
IPOB insisted that its “singular demand” remains a peaceful referendum, stressing that it is the only viable path to resolving the crisis it describes.
Arnold’s Earlier Remarks Revisited
Mike Arnold, an American investigator who previously led a fact-finding visit to Nigeria in October 2025, has continued to draw attention for his comments on insecurity in the country.
He had earlier described the violence affecting Christian communities and other groups as “calculated” and criticized the framing of such incidents as mere “farmer-herder clashes.”
Arnold also warned that continued denial of the situation could worsen instability, stating that ignoring the crisis may amount to complicity.
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SUNTV Global Channel will continue to monitor developments surrounding the IPOB leader, international reactions, and Nigeria’s evolving security discourse.
