A United States congressman, John James of Michigan, has called on the Nigerian government to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, or risk cuts to US financial assistance.
James made the call during plenary in the US House of Representatives on Thursday while seeking support for H.Res. 1321, a resolution he introduced on May 22. The resolution, now before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, urges Nigeria to ensure all legal proceedings involving Kanu comply with the country’s constitution and international human rights standards.
Speaking on the floor, James alleged that Kanu’s prosecution was part of a wider pattern of persecution against Christians in Nigeria.
“Since 2019, tens of thousands of Christians in Nigeria have been slaughtered as part of a sustained pattern of religiously motivated violence by Islamist jihadists ignored or enabled by the Nigerian government,” he said.
The congressman also alleged that extremist groups such as Boko Haram have operated without meaningful resistance from Nigerian authorities. He described Kanu as “_a courageous figure_” and claimed he was convicted following a “_farce show trial_” for speaking out against the killings.
“I implore my colleagues to support my bill, calling on the Nigerian government to conduct another trial in accordance with its own constitution… or better yet, release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu immediately and unconditionally,” James stated.
He added that the US should reconsider its financial support to Nigeria if Kanu is not released.
“America gives billions to Nigeria. We will not continue to fund a Christian genocide,” he said.
In a statement on Friday, IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful welcomed the congressman’s intervention, describing it as a significant development in the group’s campaign for Kanu’s release.
“We commend Congressman John James for his courage and the United States Congress for providing the platform,” the statement read.
IPOB is a separatist group seeking an independent state of Biafra in Nigeria’s South-East and parts of the South-South.
Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment in November 2025 after conviction on terrorism charges. He is currently serving his sentence at Sokoto prison pending the determination of his appeal.
