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American Military Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), has written to, and enlisted the support of the new British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, a British citizen and “illegally detained” Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
AVID in a letter while congratulating the PM for his emergence reminded him of Kanu's ordeal in Nigeria detention since 2021.
The letter jointly signed by Dr Sylvester Onyia, and Dr Godson Obiagwu, President and Secretary of AVID respectively, appealed to Stermer to prevail over the situation for Kanu immediate release.
The veterans expressed deep concern over Kanu’s deteriorating health condition and called for a swift response to aid his release.
The letter read, “The American Military Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID) wishes to congratulate you and the people of United Kingdom (UK) on your July 5, 2024 successful general elections.
“Your victory as the new Prime Minister is remarkable and timely. We appreciate your forward-reasoning stance on British imperialism and its impact on Africa with particular reference to Nigeria.
“We know your leadership would be a great success because of your broad scope and depth of knowledge on global affairs as well as your willingness to bring transformational changes.
“AVID is a not-for-profit Veteran entity composed of citizens of the United States of Igbo ancestry who honorably served or are currently serving in various branches of United States Armed Forces. Our organization was incorporated in the state of New Mexico, and headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. We are not affiliated to any political party at home or overseas.
“We bring to your notice the illegal extraordinary rendition of Mr Nnamdi Kanu, a political activist and British citizen by the Nigeria government from Nairobi Kenya to Nigeria.
"Since 2021, Mr Kanu has been on isolated detention in Nigeria Department of State Security Services (DSS) because he requested for referendum to create the Nation of Biafra out of the present-day Nigeria. Nnamdi Kanu has significant health problems and he is not receiving adequate healthcare.
“Just this week, Barrister Aloy Ejimako, a Special Counsel for Nnamdi Kanu wrote on X “Yesterday, during our visitation with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, we found him ill, with shortness of breath, low BP & general malaise. For this reason, he requested to see his doctor & we submitted a letter in this regard.
"Today, the Doctor arrived the DSS but was denied access to #MNK. 4:17 pm – 16/07/2024.
“We need you to expedite a thorough review of this case and help release Nnamdi Kanu from Nigerian dungeon. AVID is knee-deep in support of democratic process everywhere.
“A call for referendum is not a call for war or violence. We have high hope that you will set this British Citizen free from the clutches of cruel and inhumane treatment meted out to Mr Kanu by the Nigeria government.”
