Nnamdi Kanu Convicted: A Milestone in Nigeria's Biafran Separatist Movement

Thu Nov 20 2025 20:46:11 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Biafra separatist movement, faces severe sentencing after being convicted on terrorism charges in Nigeria, following a decade of legal battles.

A Nigerian court has found Nnamdi Kanu guilty of terrorism and related charges after years of trial. His conviction follows a campaign for the independence of Biafra, which has seen rising tensions and violent confrontations. The court anticipates delivering a harsh sentence, potentially including the death penalty. Kanu's supporters express concerns over the implications of the verdict.

A court in Nigeria has found separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu guilty of terrorism following a decade-long legal case full of drama.

The court stated it was satisfied that Kanu had made a series of broadcasts to incite violence and killings, as part of his campaign for a separate state in south-east Nigeria, known as Biafra.

Kanu has been convicted on all seven charges he faced, which included treason and involvement with an outlawed movement.

The court has adjourned, with the judge expected to hand down a sentencing later. The prosecution has called for the death penalty, although such sentences are rarely carried out in Nigeria.

Kanu has consistently denied the charges and challenged the court's jurisdiction. At the start of the trial, he dismissed his legal representation but chose not to defend himself.

Security around the court in Abuja was heightened before the verdict, anticipating potential protests from Kanu's supporters.

Once a relatively obscure figure, Kanu gained national prominence in 2009 when he established Radio Biafra, which advocated for the independence of the Igbo people, broadcasting from London.

Although he grew up in south-eastern Nigeria, Kanu moved to the UK prior to completing his education, where he later acquired British citizenship.

In 2014, he founded the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), a movement demanding independence, which was banned as a terrorist organization in 2017. Its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network, has faced accusations of violence.

Judge James Omotosho, delivering the verdict, mentioned that Mr Kanu knew what he was doing and described the evidence as indicating that he had carried out preparatory acts of terrorism.

While Kanu enjoys popularity in Biafra's heartland, reactions to the verdict have been largely subdued. His insistence that the trial could not proceed without his final written address led to his removal for unruly behavior.

After his first arrest in October 2015, Kanu jumped bail and evaded capture until his re-arrest, which involved allegations of his forced return from Kenya. Despite a previous appeal court ruling in 2022 that dropped charges against him, the Supreme Court overturned that decision the following year.

Calls for Biafran independence have historical roots, dating back to a declaration by Igbo leaders in 1967 and a civil war that resulted in significant loss of life. While many in the region continue to feel marginalized by the Nigerian state, the current sentiment towards independence remains ambiguous.