If Nnamdi Kanu Dies in Detention, Hold Britain Responsible – American-Igbo Veterans Warn

The American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID) has issued a strong warning to the British government, stating it will be held accountable if Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), dies in detention.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, AVID President Dr. Sylvester Onyia accused Britain of abandoning its citizen and aiding Nigeria in the continued detention and prosecution of Kanu, who holds both British and Nigerian citizenship. Eyes Of Lagos reports,

Kanu, arrested in Kenya in June 2021 and controversially renditioned to Nigeria, has spent over four years in custody on terrorism charges. Onyia noted that his health is deteriorating rapidly and stressed that Britain has a legal and moral duty to intervene.

“Britain’s Silence is Crimson with Complicity”

Onyia cited international laws, including Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which obligates the UK to provide medical assistance to its citizens regardless of dual nationality.

“Kanu’s health is failing. Britain must intervene medically. Failure makes it complicit in death. If Kanu dies, Britain will not be an observer – it will be an accomplice,” Onyia declared.

He further accused Britain of deliberate complicity, referencing the UN Convention Against Torture and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which he says were violated in Kanu’s rendition from Kenya.

Allegations of Collusion

The AVID leader alleged that the British government has been directly involved in Kanu’s legal troubles.

“Britain didn’t just look away, it helped script the persecution. Days after British officials visited Kanu in 2021, Nigeria amended charges against him. That’s no coincidence,” Onyia claimed.

He also criticised Britain for downplaying the Court of Appeal’s ruling that discharged Kanu, saying:

“Discharge is acquittal. Britain’s denial is fallacy.”

“Dual Nationality is Not a Death Sentence”

Onyia rejected Britain’s claim that Kanu’s Nigerian citizenship limits its intervention, insisting UK law requires protection of all citizens regardless of dual nationality.

He argued that Kanu’s ordeal is rooted in historical and political bias:

“Britain would never accept this for a British citizen in Europe. But for an Igbo man in Africa, it’s business as usual. Why? Because he challenged the artificial state Britain created in 1914.”

Demands to the British Government

AVID urged Britain to:

• Publicly condemn Kanu’s rendition.

• Demand his immediate release.

• Launch a parliamentary inquiry into violations of the Vienna Convention.

• End diplomatic support for his detention and prosecution.

“A government that claims to defend human rights must start with its citizens. Silence is not neutrality – it is complicity. If Nnamdi Kanu dies in detention, his blood will be on Britain’s hands,” Onyia warned.

Background

Nnamdi Kanu remains a polarizing figure in Nigerian politics. While supporters see him as a freedom fighter advocating for Biafran self-determination, the Nigerian government labels him a threat to national security.

With tensions high, AVID’s statement signals growing international pressure on the UK to act before it’s too late.