Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has responded to criticisms of running away during the 2017 military invasion of his home in Afara Ibeku, Umuahia, Abia State by the Nigerian army and the allegation of abandoning his followers in the country.
It could be recalled that Kanu left the country after the army invaded his home on September 14th, 2017, during the military exercise code-named; “Operation Python Dance II”.
Following the development, Kanu later resurfaced few months ago in Israel which stirred controversies as some Nigerians opined that since Kanu is the leader of IPOB, he should have faced the army rather than running away.
Kanu, reacting during his live radio broadcast from London on Saturday said he ran away because he did not have any weapon to face armed military men who stormed his house.
According to him, he fled to Israel because it is the safest place for him to stay alive and achieve Biafra republic.
Kanu said “I want to ask those that criticise me about what they have done in their life.
“Did you know that Nelson Mandela ran to Nigeria for safety during his time?
“I ran away because Jubril (Buhari) sent the military to my house to come and kill me and they expected me to stay and confront them, I’m unarmed just as IPOB members are unarmed group.
“No one in Nigeria has done what I have done. I came home and I confronted the army, I went to their court, I was unlawfully detained, I went home, conducted a rally and they sent their army to come and kill me.
“Nnia Nwodo, Okezie Ikpeazu, Obiano and Umahi were the ones that signed and brought the army to kill me.
“Yes, I fled to Israel because it is the safest place for me and I needed to stay alive and achieve Biafra republic. Tell those who said that I ran away to read their history book, they will find out that all the popular human rights activists, both dead and alive ran away when it’s the best time to.”
