Kenya Reacts to Alleged Involvement in ‘Classic Repatriation’ of Nnamdi Kanu of IPOB
On what the Nigerian government described as ‘Classic Repatriation,’ the Kenyan government has denied the involvement of his home government in the extradition of the leader of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Kanu’s family had earlier made an allegation that the IPOB leader was extradited from Kenya through the aid of the Kenyan government.
Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said Kanu’s re-arrest is one of the most classic operations of its type in the world.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the Kenyan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Wilfred Machage, said: “I want to address this allegation by denying that Kenya was involved in the alleged arrest in Kenya and extradition to Nigeria of Mr. Kanu. To us therefore these allegations are fictional, imaginary and deliberately concerted to fuel antagonistic feelings among a certain section of the Nigerian people.”
He added that: “I want to challenge anyone with facts relating to this alleged arrest in Kenya to present those facts. This includes when, where, how and who was particularly involved in the alleged arrest.”
He said the government and people of Kenya were also disturbed, dismayed and astonished by the unfortunate statement on this alleged arrest in Kenya which was carried in one of the national dailies.
He added: “The Government of Kenya is particularly appalled by the spurious, derogatory and libellous mention of our dear President on this matter as has been reported.”
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“I, as the High Commissioner of the Republic of Kenya to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, wish to categorically emphasize that our two countries, Kenya and Nigeria, have and continues to enjoy cordial diplomatic relations with both the Federal Government of Nigeria and its great accommodating and amiable citizens,” Machage said.
He noted that Kenya was committed to sustaining the historical bond of friendship between the two countries and further cement diplomatic relations with the view of ensuring beneficial relations.
He urged that Kenya should not be dragged into the issue as she has no question to answer but rather that the citizens of Nigeria should approach the Nigerian government for explanation of where Kanu was arrested from.
The Kenya’s Director-General of Immigration Services, Alexander Muteshi, had also denied the claims that the country was complicity in the re-arrest and eventual extradition, arguing that it was not possible to tell whether Kanu had entered Kenyan territory.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, the Lai Mohammed said Kanu’s re-arrest is one of the most classic operations of its type in the world.
The minister who commended the Nigerian security agents for professionalism and diligence in the successful operation said Kanu lived a five-star life across several countries, travelling on chartered private jets, living in luxury apartments and turning out in designer clothes and shoes.
“Of course, as we all saw, he was wearing an attire made by Fendi, a luxury Italian fashion brand, when he was arrested.
“We commend the professionalism, diligence, patriotism and painstaking efforts of our security and intelligence agencies. We also thank the sister international agencies that collaborated with us to pull off this arrest,” he said.
By PRNigeria
