Nnamdi Kanu Urges Trump to Intervene in ‘Hidden Genocide’ Against Christians in Nigeria’s Southeast

|By Chinwendu Nwani

The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has appealed to former U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene in what he described as a “hidden genocide” targeting Christians in Nigeria’s Southeast.

In an open letter to Trump, Kanu alleged that the persecution of Christians in Nigeria has spread beyond the North, claiming that Igbo communities in the Southeast are now under systematic attack.

He praised Trump’s recent declaration that the United States was “prepared to act militarily and cut aid if Nigeria fails to protect its Christian population,” saying it had renewed hope for millions facing religious persecution.

“This genocide is not confined to the North—it has metastasized into the Igbo heartland, where Judeo-Christians are being systematically exterminated under the guise of counter-terrorism,” Kanu wrote.

The IPOB leader, who identified himself as a “practicing Jew” and “believer in Judeo-Christian heritage,” recounted surviving four assassination attempts since 2015. He also described his abduction from Kenya in June 2021, calling it an “extraordinary rendition” that violated international law and a Kenyan court ruling.

Kanu accused the Nigerian government of weaponizing insecurity to criminalize IPOB and suppress dissent, alleging that state-backed militias have carried out attacks later blamed on his group.

“Since my illegal rendition, Nigeria has declared IPOB a terrorist organization without evidence of violence, sponsored ‘unknown gunmen’ attacks, and killed over 2,000 Igbo youths in so-called counter-terrorism operations,” he claimed.

The separatist leader urged Trump and the international community to hold the Nigerian government accountable, warning that “the world must not repeat the mistakes of Rwanda.”

Kanu’s letter adds to the growing global attention on religious persecution and human rights violations in Nigeria, issues that have long drawn concern from international observers and advocacy groups.