Updated on 1 July
It happened fast and unexpectedly.
Just as Nigerians were trying to digest the shocking news of Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest, the Nigerian government quickly arraigned him in court where a federal judge declared that he be remanded until 26 July when his trial is scheduled to resume.
This poses a setback for the separatist leader, once again. More than four years ago, he was released from prison on bail and since then, has continued to evade arrest by Nigerian security operatives, partly due to his residency in the UK where he also holds British citizenship.
“This would be a major blow to the morale of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB),” says Ephraim Onoja, a security expert based in Imo where Kanu’s followers are concentrated.
The responses to Kanu’s arrest so far have reflected Nigeria’s deep ethnic divisions.
“Buhari has been able to send a strong message that he is
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