The family of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has issued a warning over the emergence of fake social media accounts impersonating him.
In a statement released on Thursday by his younger brother, Emmanuel Kanu, on behalf of the Okwu-Kanu family, the family said it had discovered several fraudulent accounts, particularly on Facebook and Instagram, falsely claiming to represent Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
According to the statement, the fake pages often use official-looking logos, list locations such as Nairobi or Sokoto, and post misleading updates. The family stressed that these accounts have no connection to Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB, or the Kanu family.
The family clarified that since Kanu’s arrest and detention in June 2021, he has not maintained any active or verified presence on social media. It added that he does not operate Facebook, Instagram, or any other accounts sharing personal messages, location updates, or seeking engagement.
The statement described the impersonation as part of a “sustained deceptive operation,” allegedly involving Nigerian security agencies and their collaborators. It claimed the objectives include harvesting personal data from unsuspecting followers, spreading disinformation to damage the image of Kanu and IPOB, and monitoring or provoking supporters for possible harassment, surveillance, or arrest.
The family advised the public to avoid engaging with such accounts, urging people to unfollow and report them as impersonation or scam pages. It encouraged supporters to rely only on verified IPOB channels and trusted media outlets such as Radio Biafra.
The statement warned that anyone who interacts with the fake pages does so at their own risk, noting that sharing personal information could have serious consequences.
The family also reiterated Kanu’s commitment to the peaceful and non-violent pursuit of self-determination for Biafrans and renewed its call for his unconditional release.
Kanu was first arrested in October 2015 on charges of treasonable felony and was granted bail in 2017. He later fled to the United Kingdom, where he continued his activism. In June 2021, he was rearrested in Kenya and returned to Nigeria, an action his supporters describe as an illegal rendition. He has remained in detention since then.
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