[JUST IN]: ‘The Same Forces That Twisted Aburi Are Targeting ESN’ – Igbo Religious Leaders Raise Fresh Allegations Against Government

• A coalition of concerned Igbo religious leaders has issued a strongly worded public opinion statement accusing the Nigerian government and some Igbo political leaders…

A coalition of concerned Igbo religious leaders has issued a strongly worded public opinion statement accusing the Nigerian government and some Igbo political leaders of distorting the history surrounding the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN), while calling for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu.

The statement, signed by Rev. Tony Uzor Anthony on behalf of the coalition, said it comprises bishops, pastors, priests, and custodians of Igbo traditional spirituality. It drew parallels between the handling of the 1967 Aburi Accord and what it described as the current treatment of IPOB and ESN.

According to the coalition, the same pattern of “distorting defensive initiatives and blaming the victims” that allegedly undermined the Aburi Accord is being repeated in the case of ESN.

The religious leaders argued that ESN was established in response to growing insecurity in the South-East following the proscription of IPOB in 2017 and the deployment of military operations to the region. They claimed that the security outfit emerged to protect communities from attacks by armed herders and bandits.

The coalition questioned the basis for the 2017 proscription of IPOB, alleging that no specific criminal act committed by Kanu or the organisation had been credibly established before the decision was taken.

It also criticised some South-East governors, alleging that political rivalry and opposition to Kanu’s popularity contributed to the decision to proscribe the group and invite military operations into the region.

The statement further alleged that ESN and Kanu have since been unfairly blamed for insecurity in the South-East while, according to the coalition, those responsible for policies that led to military intervention have escaped scrutiny.

The group also questioned the legal basis of Kanu’s conviction delivered on November 20, 2025, arguing that aspects of the legal framework relied upon in the case have been challenged. It maintained that concerns regarding jurisdiction and fair hearing remain unresolved.

Describing Kanu as “a prisoner of conscience,” the coalition urged Nigerians and the international community to support his unconditional release, which it said is necessary for lasting peace and meaningful dialogue on the future of the country.

The religious leaders also called on Igbo people to reject what they described as propaganda against ESN, resist internal divisions, and pursue what they termed the “original spirit” of the Aburi Accord through restructuring or, where restructuring is unattainable, the pursuit of self-determination through legitimate means.

The statement concluded with prayers for wisdom, justice, and what it described as the swift deliverance of Kanu and others whom the coalition believes are suffering unjustly.

The statement was issued by the Coalition of Concerned Igbo Religious Leaders, representing Christian, traditional, and interfaith groups across Alaigbo, and was signed by Rev. Tony Uzor Anthony.