The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has condemned the life sentence given to Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The group described the ruling as politically motivated and an affront to the Igbo people.

In a statement released on November 21, 2025, by its leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu, MASSOB asserted that the judgment issued by Justice James Omotosho reflected “open anger and tribalism.” Madu accused the judiciary of pursuing vengeance rather than justice, claiming that Ndigbo as a whole have been wronged by this sentence.

MASSOB criticized President Bola Tinubu, alleging that the ruling has destabilized Nigeria further. The statement emphasized that Kanu was sentenced for expressing opinions abroad and highlighted the illegal circumstances surrounding his extradition from Kenya, which the organization points to as a violation of his rights according to a ruling by a Kenyan court.

The group also expressed concern over what it perceives as a double standard in the treatment of terrorism-related cases, contrasting Kanu’s harsh sentence with the significantly lighter five-year sentence imposed on Boko Haram co-founder Mamman Nur, accused of orchestrating numerous attacks.

MASSOB maintains that Kanu’s real offense was exposing the government’s relationship with jihadist groups in Nigeria. They reiterated that international opinions, including those from the United Nations, call for his release, describing his detention as arbitrary.

The organization concluded that the judgment not only reflects ongoing injustice towards Kanu but represents a broader systemic oppression against the Igbo people, underscoring a “brutal, lawless, totalitarian regime” in Nigeria.

As the situation develops, MASSOB continues to advocate for Kanu’s immediate release and calls attention to the pressing issues of regional justice and governance in Nigeria.