Advocacy efforts supporting the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, continue in the United States through low-profile meetings with lawmakers, policymakers, and opinion leaders in Washington, D.C.
A circulating video shows author and business strategist Mark Faust from Cincinnati, Ohio, alongside Chief Evans Nwankwo, Chairman of Ambassadors for Self-Determination, a U.S.-based advocacy group aligned with pro-Biafra and self-determination causes. According to statements circulated by IPOB supporters and related social media accounts, the engagements are carried out under directives from Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to advance a diplomatic campaign focused on his continued detention.
The discussions reportedly center on what advocates describe as the unlawful detention of Kanu, the persecution of Judeo-Christian communities in Nigeria, and the need for a peaceful, lawful resolution to the Biafra self-determination question. These efforts emphasize non-violent advocacy, legal channels, and international awareness rather than high-profile media campaigns.
Ambassadors for Self-Determination, led by Mazi Evans Nwankwo, has been active in U.S.-based advocacy on these issues. The group has previously issued statements criticizing South-East Nigerian political leaders for allegedly failing to prioritize Kanu's release and regional concerns, while calling for strategic civic engagement among Igbo communities.
The activities contrast with reports of significant Nigerian government spending on U.S. lobbying. Recent disclosures indicate that the Federal Government of Nigeria, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, contracted a Republican-linked lobbying firm for approximately $9 million to engage Washington stakeholders, particularly to counter narratives around religious violence and alleged Christian persecution in Nigeria—issues that pro-Biafra groups have highlighted in their outreach.
Advocates argue that while substantial funds are directed toward public relations and influence efforts in the U.S. capital, genuine progress on justice and self-determination stems from principled, persistent engagement rather than financial resources. They maintain that conviction and moral arguments drive their momentum, from grassroots support in places like Cincinnati to engagements on Capitol Hill.
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of IPOB, remains in detention in Sokoto prison following a life imprisonment sentence handed down by a Federal High Court in Abuja in November 2025 on terrorism-related charges. Kanu and IPOB have consistently denied the allegations, asserting that his 2021 arrest in Kenya and transfer to Nigeria constituted an unlawful rendition rather than a lawful extradition. IPOB has appealed aspects of the case, including filing a fresh appeal in early February 2026 against certain Federal High Court rulings.
In a separate development, Kanu received honorary citizenship from the State of Georgia in January 2026, along with recognition as an "Outstanding Citizen" and "Goodwill Ambassador" from Georgia. Supporters view this as a symbolic boost to international advocacy for his release, though it does not confer formal U.S. citizenship or legal obligations on the federal government.
The diplomatic activities reflect ongoing efforts by pro-Biafra and self-determination groups to internationalize the Kanu case and broader regional grievances. While the Nigerian government has designated IPOB a terrorist organization and maintains that Kanu's trial was conducted in accordance with law, advocates continue to frame their work as a pursuit of justice, human rights, and peaceful self-determination.
These quiet engagements, proponents say, are gaining traction through persistence and principle rather than financial expenditure, with supporters asserting that global attention is increasing on the issues involved.
