Igbo Community in Sokoto Marks Christmas With Nnamdi Kanu, Feeds Over 1,300 Inmates

The Igbo community in Sokoto State on Christmas Day visited the Sokoto Correctional Centre to celebrate the season with detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and hundreds of other inmates, in what they described as a humanitarian and cultural outreach

Community leaders said the visit was organised to share the spirit of Christmas with inmates, regardless of ethnicity, religion or offence. During the visit, the group reportedly provided festive meals to about 1,300 prisoners, including Kanu, and spent time in fellowship with them. Speaking after the visit, representatives of the Igbo community said the initiative was inspired by core Igbo values of compassion and solidarity, often captured in the saying “onye aghana nwanne ya” (do not abandon your brother). They explained that while Kanu’s situation drew attention, the decision was deliberately taken to extend the celebration to all inmates in the facility. This is not about politics or agitation. Christmas is a season of love, sharing and hope. We came to identify with inmates and remind them that they are not forgotten,” one of the organisers said. According to reports, Kanu expressed appreciation for the gesture and encouraged the group to continue promoting peace and unity across Nigeria. The visit was carried out with the approval and supervision of officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Sokoto. Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed IPOB, is currently serving a life sentence following his conviction by a Federal High Court on terrorism-related charges in November 2025. His trial, conviction and incarceration have continued to generate national and international debate, with his legal team pursuing an appeal. Observers say the Christmas outreach by the Igbo community in Sokoto highlights a rare moment of inter-ethnic and humanitarian engagement in the country’s correctional system, especially in a region far from the South-East where Kanu hails from. Community leaders added that the initiative was also aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence between Igbo residents and their host communities in the North, while reinforcing the message that compassion should transcend political and ethnic divides. The Sokoto Correctional Centre authorities reportedly commended the group for the orderly conduct of the visit and for supporting inmates during the festive period.