The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has announced the indefinite suspension of the office of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, along with the position of the Director of Radio Biafra, in a move that highlights growing divisions within the organisation.
The decision was reached during a meeting of the group’s Directorate of State (DOS), which said it reviewed intelligence reports relating to communications allegedly linked to Kanu while in detention.
In a statement signed by the Head of the Directorate of State, Mazi Chikadibia Edoziem, the body said it would now take full responsibility for the administration and daily operations of the movement.
According to the DOS, concerns were raised over communications allegedly associated with Kanu that may have contributed to the arrest of members and heightened tensions in the South-East. The group also expressed concern over reports of efforts by certain individuals to establish a new armed structure in the region.
The leadership stated that the suspension was intended to prevent the misuse of authority by individuals acting in the name of the organisation and to safeguard members from actions that could expose them to legal or security risks.
The announcement comes shortly after reports emerged that Kanu had dissolved the existing Directorate of State and approved a new leadership structure headed by US-based Mazi Chris Nwaọgụ.
The latest developments have intensified the internal struggle for control within IPOB, with rival factions now claiming authority over the organisation.
Kanu remains in detention following his conviction on terrorism-related charges by a Federal High Court in Abuja in 2025.
