A United States Congressman, John James, has renewed his call for the immediate release of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, linking the separatist leader’s continued detention to what he described as the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
James made the appeal while addressing the floor of the US House of Representatives on Thursday, urging lawmakers to support H.Res. 1321, a resolution he introduced on May 22, 2026, seeking to ensure that legal proceedings involving Kanu comply with Nigeria’s Constitution and international human rights obligations.
The resolution, which is currently before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, also calls on the Nigerian government to guarantee Kanu’s access to legal representation, medical care and humane conditions of detention.
Speaking during the session, the Michigan lawmaker described Nigeria as the deadliest country in the world for Christians, alleging that tens of thousands had been killed since 2019 in attacks by Islamist extremists.
According to him, the killings represent a sustained campaign of religious violence that has either been ignored or enabled by the Nigerian government.
“Since 2019, tens of thousands of Christians in Nigeria have been slaughtered as part of a sustained pattern of religiously motivated violence by Islamist jihadis ignored or enabled by the Nigerian government,” James said.
He further alleged that terrorist groups, including Boko Haram, continue to operate without an adequate response from Nigerian authorities.
Referring to Kanu’s conviction, James described the IPOB leader as someone punished for speaking out against the killings, insisting that the terrorism charges against him were unfounded.
“I implore my colleagues to support my bill, H.Res. 1321, calling on the Nigerian government to conduct another trial in accordance with its own constitution based on evidence with access to legal counsel, medical care, and international law pertaining to humane conditions of detention, or better yet, release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu immediately and unconditionally,” he said.
James also questioned continued US financial assistance to Nigeria, saying Washington should not continue supporting a government accused of failing to protect Christians.
“America gives billions to Nigeria. We will not continue to fund a Christian genocide,” he said, adding that the United States had a moral responsibility to defend religious freedom.
Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment on November 20, 2025, by the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, after he was convicted on terrorism-related charges.
He is being held at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja following his arrest in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2021 and subsequent transfer to Nigeria.
James’ resolution also references a July 20, 2022, opinion of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which concluded that Kanu’s detention breached international human rights obligations and recommended his release, alongside appropriate remedies.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
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