Enugu/Abuja, February 13, 2026 – The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has launched a coordinated worldwide support initiative to fund the ongoing medical treatment and legal defence of its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, following what the group describes as a deliberate escalation of financial and logistical pressure on his care team.
In an internal memorandum dated February 13, 2026, and signed by IPOB Spokesperson and Media & Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, the movement formally directed all members, coordinators, unit leaders, and structures worldwide to rally behind three designated partner organisations that have long supported Kanu’s medical, diplomatic, and legal needs.
The organisations named are:
- American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID)
- Ambassadors for Self-Determination
- Rising Sun Foundation
According to the memo, Kanu personally appealed for support to these groups prior to his sentencing on November 20, 2025, during which he appeared visibly weakened in court appearances.
Comrade Emma Powerful explained that the urgency of the fundraising drive stems from Kanu’s punitive transfer to Sokoto prison, which has dramatically increased costs for his legal and medical team:
- All 13 principal attorneys remain based in Abuja.
- Lead physician Emeritus Prof. Martin Aghaji also operates from Abuja.
- Each visit requires expensive air travel, with average return airfare per person approaching ₦500,000.
The statement described the financial burden as “deliberate” and called on the global IPOB family to neutralise it through immediate, voluntary contributions.
The memo also provided an update on Kanu’s health condition, stating that he continues to battle serious complications linked to his 2021 rendition ordeal, including:
- Chronic potassium depletion
- Congestive heart complications
- Persistent tinnitus from head trauma sustained during abduction
- These health challenges, the group said, make sustained medical access and legal representation essential.
- In a strong unity directive attributed directly to Kanu, the memo instructed members to:
- Cease all infighting immediately
- Remain vigilant against misinformation and psychological operations
- Maintain discipline and focus
Comrade Emma Powerful disclosed that a “major international development” would be announced the following Wednesday (February 19, 2026), describing it as evidence of progress in ongoing global diplomatic engagements and confirmation that “the struggle has entered a decisive phase.” Members were urged to exercise maturity and confidentiality ahead of the announcement.
The statement emphasised that while a broader IPOB fundraising effort is planned later in the year, the current initiative targets immediate support for the three named partner organisations handling Kanu’s medical and legal needs.
In a pointed final note, the spokesperson warned of infiltration and compromise within IPOB structures, stating: “Our enemies have penetrated and compromised our structural discipline from within. But Onyendu said we must remain strong and faithful to our ideals.”
The memo concluded with a call for absolute solidarity:
“If you have any doubt, don’t ask anybody because they will deceive you, visit or send someone to Sokoto prison to confer with Onyendu so he can confirm this directive himself.”
The communication ended with the signature rallying lines:
“We remain IPOB.
We remain indivisible.
We remain one family.”
The directive comes amid ongoing legal proceedings and international advocacy efforts surrounding Kanu’s detention. IPOB maintains that Kanu’s continued incarceration violates due process and international human rights standards, while Nigerian authorities have consistently described the charges against him as legitimate and security-related.
The group’s call for voluntary global contributions highlights the financial and logistical challenges faced by Kanu’s defence and medical teams, especially following his relocation to Sokoto prison.
As IPOB mobilises its worldwide structures, the movement has urged members to circulate the information widely, encourage participation, counter misinformation calmly, and uphold unity and discipline in all communications.
