The ongoing detention of pro-Biafran activist Nnamdi Kanu means that the question of independence for Biafra remains a hot-button issue in Nigeria.
Kanu heads up the secessionist Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) group, which campaigns for self-determination for a region of southeast Nigeria. He was arrested by Nigerian security forces in October 2015 on charges of ethnic incitement and sedition.
The U.K.-based activist, who is also the director of underground station Radio Biafra, was granted unconditional bail in December 2015, but Nigerian authorities immediately put fresh charges of treason against him. On January 20, a federal high court in the capital Abuja ordered that Kanu continue to be remanded in prison and adjourned his case until January 25, when a decision on his bail application was set for January 29.
In this video, Newsweek explains the history of Biafra and why the issue is so prominent in Nigeria.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Conor is a staff writer for Newsweek covering Africa, with a focus on Nigeria, security and conflict.
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