Detained Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has called on all secessionist armed group operating either as Unknown Gunmen, Biafra Liberation Army or Biafra National Guard to stop killing soldiers in the Southeastern states of Nigeria, adding that, the killing of soldiers is producing young widows whom he learnt some of them and  their slain husbands are natives of Biafra or indigenes of Biafra communities.

Nnamdi Kanu made the call on Wednesday when he appeared before the Federal High Court Abuja where he is being tried for treasonable felony charges.

Hundreds of soldiers have been killed in the Southeast states since August 9, 2021 when sit-at-home protest began in the Southeastern states of Nigeria considered to be Biafra land over Federal Government failure to produce the re-arrested IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu at the scheduled court sitting in Abuja after he was re-arrested in Kenya.

On May 30th, 2024, over five soldiers were killed at Obikabia junction at a military checkpoint in Abia State. Although the Nigeria Defence Headquarters in a statement accused members of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network, ESN to be responsible for the killing but Biafra Defence Headquarters, the parent military formation of Biafra Resistance Fighters and Biafra Liberation Army in a tweet, claimed responsibility over the mass killing of the soldiers.

The killing of soldiers in the southeastern states is usually celebrated by the Prime Minister of Biafra Government In Exile, Simon Ekpa who do refer to the soldiers as terrorists sent by the Nigeria Government to destroy or kill innocent Biafrans.

Nnamdi Kanu in a conversation with his lawyers as showed in a video posted online on Wednesday after the lawyers told him that he needed to speak up to stop the killings in the Southeast states, said and in quote: “I condemn any manner of killing. Every manner of killing, I condemn in its entirety.

I want people to understand that IPOB was founded on a non-violent principle and we maintain that up till this very day. Some of these soldiers, we’re told, are also our people. And the families are now in mourning. All the making of young widows is condemned in its entirety. I don’t want it, I don’t want anybody to die.

We are fighting for freedom, then how can we fight death at the same time? It’s not possible; we want people to be free. That’s all we’re fighting for, nothing more.

We’ve suffered a lot in Africa, I don’t know if you know that. Africans have suffered – from slavery in (Saudi) Arabia, to slavery in Europe, to slavery in America. So, I think we should focus our time and devote it towards making sure that this continent stands up to what God promised it’s going to be.”

Meanwhile, Nnamdi Kanu, through his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor had earlier been reported to have inform Justice Binta Nyako and the prosecuting counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), that “the defence wants the case settled out of court”.

Ejimakor had been reported to have complained to the court that the Department of State Services, which is keeping Kanu in custody, had not fully complied with the orders of the court to allow the legal team unfettered and free access to the defendant in order to prepare him for his trial.

The lawyer complained that Kanu’s cell was bugged by the DSS, making the lawyers conscious during their meetings.

He added that this has led the legal team to resolve to initiate contempt proceedings against the Director General of the DSS for refusing to obey the court’s order which had directed the DSS to grant Kanu an unbugged “safe room” space for meeting with his lawyers.

Ejimakor asked the court to on its own, invoke Section 17 of the Federal High Court Act, which he stated, provides for “reconciliation” and facilitation of amicable settlement in criminal or civil matters.

He said he had previously discussed the proposition with the prosecution counsel and who had told him the proper time for such an issue had not come.

In a recent statement, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, special counsel for the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu clarified that it was the Federal High Court in Abuja that directed the Nigerian government and the IPOB leader to pursue reconciliation.

Ejimakor said the court gave the directive on Wednesday when Kanu’s case came up.

The lawyer said some media reports that Kanu sought negotiation with the Nigerian government on the charges levelled against him were slanted.

According to him, it was the court that invoked its powers under Section 17 of the Federal High Court Act and issued the directive.

Ejimakor said, “Today, invoking its powers under Section 17 of the Federal High Court, Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to explore the prospects of reconciliation or political solution in the ongoing trial of Nnamdi Kanu.

“Section 17 of the Federal High Court Act provides that ‘In any proceedings in the Court, the Court may promote reconciliation among the parties thereto and encourage and facilitate the amicable settlement thereof’.

“Responding, the private prosecutor representing the Federal government, Ademoyega Awomolo (SAN) told the Court that he has no objection to political settlement or solution of the case but Kanu’s lawyers should discuss it directly with the Attorney-General.

“In the same vein, Kanu’s lead counsel Aloy Ejimakor expressed no objection to political settlement.”

Kanu had filed an application before the court seeking to move form 49, and a second application which objected to the court’s jurisdiction to try him.

Kanu is facing trial on terrorism charges levelled against by former President Muhammadu Buhari administration over his call and agitation for a sovereign state of Biafra.

The case was adjourned to September 24 for further hearing.