The trial of detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, resumed on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Naijaonpoint reports that the Department of State Services (DSS) is accusing Nnamdi Kanu of instigating a wave of violence that claimed the lives of up to 200 security personnel across the South-East.
A masked DSS operative, identified as PW-DDD, who testified behind a protective screen, appeared as the fourth prosecution witness in the seven-count charge of terrorism and treasonable felony brought against Kanu by the Federal Government.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), the DSS operative told the court that Kanu used Radio Biafra to incite followers to carry out violent attacks on individuals, particularly security agents.
“Kanu had in his illegal radio broadcasts directed his followers to deal decisively with some targeted persons including security agents,” NAIJAONPOINT said.
According to the operative, these incitements directly led to the killing of between 170 and 200 security operatives in the South-East.
Gulak’s Murder Traced to Kanu’s Order
The DSS also linked Kanu to the May 30, 2021 assassination of former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak, in Owerri, Imo State.
He told the court that he served in Imo State between 2019 and 2023, adding that it was his car that was used to evacuate Gulak’s corpse.
The DSS operative said on that fateful day, there was a total breakdown of law and order as a result of a stay-at-home the defendant declared in one of his broadcasts.
According to him later that day, his colleagues informed him that a prominent politician was killed around Obiagwu, information that led his team to rush to the spot.
He said the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in the area, told him that Gulak was in a hired cab when he was killed by some IPOB members.
NAIJAONPOINT testified that the driver of the cab told him that they were heading to the airport from Owerri town when they saw a checkpoint mounted by men of the Nigerian Air Force who were preventing people from accessing the airport.
He said the development forced the driver to take an alternative route that took them to another checkpoint that was mounted by IPOB members.
NAIJAONPOINT said the driver revealed that the IPOB members ordered the three of them in the car to disembark, and demanded to know their tribes. He said both the driver and Gulak introduced themselves as Igbo men.
However, upon a command by the IPOB members, while the driver spoke the Igbo language, Gulak was not able to speak.
He revealed that the gunmen instructed Gulak to remove his cap, following which they saw a Muslim prayer mark on his forehead.
He said immediately the IPOB members saw the prayer mark, one of them shouted: “he is one of them!” and shot him dead.
The court also heard that Kanu smuggled a radio transmitter into the country and installed it on the property of Benjamin Madubugu in Ubuluisiuzor, Anambra State.
A certified NBC report assessing the transmitter was submitted as evidence.
Human Head Rituals and Cannibalism Claims
The DSS witness further cited confessions from one Uzuoma Benjamin, a.k.a. Onye Army, who he said was a commander of the Eastern Security Network (ESN)—allegedly IPOB’s armed wing.
Reading from Vanguard publications, the operative claimed: “Kanu gave a directive that the late ESN commander, Ikonso, be buried with 2,000 human heads.”
He said Onye Army also confessed to using the heads of 10 girls to prepare charms for protection.
NAIJAONPOINT alleged that a DSS raid on an ESN hideout revealed about seven members with human heads, some of whom were reportedly eating human flesh for spiritual fortification.
He described the ESN members as combatants who routinely attack traditional rulers and prominent individuals in the region.
Following the testimony, Justice James Omotosho adjourned the matter until today, Thursday, for continuation of the trial.