Bishop Egbuonu Reveals Nnamdi Kanu’s Mental State, After Visit to Sokoto Prison

“Bishop Ikechukwu Egbuonu reveals new details after visiting IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu at the Sokoto Correctional Facility, describing his condition, concerns over judgment errors, and Kanu’s message to Southeast youths.”

Right Reverend Ikechukwu Egbuonu, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Oji River, Enugu State, has shared new insights into his visit to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, at the Sokoto Correctional Facility, where Kanu was recently transferred.

The report draws from a November 28 publication of the Daily Post.

It will be recalled that Kanu was sentenced to death last week by Justice James Omotosho after being found guilty on all seven charges brought against him by the Federal Government. Barely 24 hours after the judgment, he was moved from the Department of State Services (DSS) detention in Abuja to the correctional centre in Sokoto—a transfer his legal team describes as an attempt to “limit access to counsel, family, and essential support.”

Motivated by what he described as “love and genuine concern,” Bishop Egbuonu travelled from Enugu to Sokoto to see the separatist leader. Speaking in an interview with AIT, he recounted his observations during the visit.

According to him, he expected to meet a troubled and emotionally drained Kanu. Instead, he found someone “mentally steady, composed, and unusually calm despite the weight of his situation.”

The cleric said Kanu spoke about his pre-existing heart condition, although he could not determine how effectively it is being managed behind bars.

Quoting the bishop, he said: “His personality is rare because, in the midst of all this, he is living like a man who is above his situation. Though he mentioned his heart condition, I don’t know how he is being taken care of in prison. But I think he is not depressed as I feared, because we went to comfort and encourage him.”

However, the visit took an unexpected turn as Kanu ended up offering his own words of reassurance. Bishop Egbuonu said Kanu urged young people in the Southeast not to resort to violence or destruction, stressing the need for calm as legal processes unfold.

The bishop also expressed confidence that the recent judgment contained several inconsistencies, insisting that the appeal would expose what he described as “glaring errors,” including allegations tied to periods when Kanu was already in DSS custody.

During the conversation, Kanu reportedly addressed the activities of various groups operating under the banner of “unknown gunmen” in the Southeast. He claimed that one faction comprises individuals allegedly brought in from outside the region to foment instability, while another operates for financial gain.

He also distanced himself from the actions of a foreign-based agitator, stating that he had communicated his disapproval directly through a handwritten note.