February 18, 2026 — SUNTV Global News Desk
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has strongly criticised recent remarks attributed to presidential aide Sunday Dare, accusing him of making “misleading and ethnically biased” statements regarding the legal cases involving the group’s leader, Nnamdi Kanu, and Yoruba activist Sunday Igboho.
In a statement released Wednesday and signed by IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful, the group reacted to a publication credited to Dare which reportedly drew a distinction between Kanu’s terrorism conviction and Igboho’s activism.
IPOB Rejects Comparison
IPOB dismissed the comparison, insisting that the circumstances surrounding both figures are fundamentally different. The group maintained that Kanu’s prosecution was politically motivated and part of a broader pattern in which political activists were historically criminalised before later gaining recognition.
To support its position, IPOB referenced several prominent global and African figures, including Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X, all of whom faced imprisonment during political struggles.
The group also cited African nationalist leaders such as Nnamdi Azikiwe, Kwame Nkrumah, and Julius Nyerere, arguing that legal battles often accompany political movements.
Claims of Ethnic Bias
IPOB further alleged that Kanu’s trial was influenced by ethnic considerations, pointing to the roles played by officials it claimed were predominantly Yoruba, including trial judge James Omotosho.
The group described the judicial process as predetermined and accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of overseeing what it termed an unfair prosecution.
ESN and Security Claims
In its statement, IPOB also defended the activities of its Eastern Security Network (ESN), claiming the outfit has prevented large-scale violence in the South-East.
The group argued that insecurity now affecting parts of the South-West reflects warnings it said Kanu had issued years earlier.
Political Reactions and Renewed Tensions
IPOB additionally criticised some South-East political leaders, accusing them of failing to defend regional interests. It reiterated its commitment to pursuing Biafra’s self-determination despite ongoing legal and political challenges.
As of the time of this report, there has been no official response from Sunday Dare or the Presidency regarding the latest accusations.
— SUNTV Global reporting
