I don't know anything about ENDSARS killings in Lagos', - Nnamdi Kanu

By Adamu Aliyu Aliyu/ABUJA//

Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), has denied that the destruction that trailed the #EndSARS protest in October 2020 was triggered by his radio broadcast.

At the resumption of the hearing on Thursday, the video of the interrogation session of the IPOB leader was played in the court.

In the video, Kanu admitted that he made some pronouncements in respect of the #EndSARS protest and other issues via Radio Biafra.

But the IPOB leader said violence witnessed during the #EndSARS protest in Lagos was outside the south-east geopolitical zone.

He added that his radio broadcast could not have resulted in the violence in Lagos.

Kanu said he was not directly involved in the day-to-day running of both organisations — IPOB and Eastern Security Network (ESN).

He added that the organisations were managed by states’ coordinators.

The IPOB leader said he did not have authority over the members of the organisations.

Kanu said he would not have subscribed to a referendum for secession if he had authority over the members.

The IPOB leader denied that the group is responsible for the violent attacks and killings in the south-east zone.

He said ESN was established to stop the killings of people in the south-east zone.

Led in evidence by Adegboyega Awomolo, counsel to the DSS, the witness said the radio broadcast of the IPOB leader led to the killings of eminent Nigerians, including security officers.

The DSS operative said Kanu’s broadcast led to the killing of Stanley Nnaji, a retired judge, and Audu Lucas and Glory Matthew, an intending military couple, in the south-east zone of the country.

The witness said in one of Kanu’s broadcasts, he ordered his followers to enforce a sit-at-home order in the south-east and kill those who disobeyed the directive.

The DSS official said the broadcast also led to the killing of Ahmed Gulak, a former presidential aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

The witness said investigation revealed that before Gulak was killed, those enforcing the sit-at-home directive blamed him for coming out the day their leader instructed everyone to stay indoors.

After the witness completed his testimony, Paul Erokoro, the defendant’s lawyer, sought an adjournment for the cross-examination of the DSS operative.

The judge adjourned the matter to May 14, May 21 and May 22 for further hearing.