The family of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has warned members of the public against individuals impersonating him on social media platforms.
The warning was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by his younger brother, Emmanuel Kanu, on behalf of the Okwu-Kanu family.
According to the statement, several fraudulent social media accounts – particularly on Facebook and Instagram – are falsely claiming to represent Kanu.
“It has come to our attention that fraudulent social media accounts, particularly on Facebook and Instagram, are impersonating Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” the family said.
The family added that the fake accounts often use official-looking logos, claim locations such as Nairobi or Sokoto, and post misleading updates, stressing that none of the pages is associated with Kanu, IPOB, or the Kanu family.
The statement maintained that since his arrest and detention in June 2021, Kanu has had no active or verified social media presence.
“He does not operate Facebook pages, Instagram accounts, or any other online profiles posting personal messages, location updates, or soliciting engagement,” the family said.
The family alleged that the fake accounts were part of what it described as a sustained deceptive operation, claiming that the objective was to harvest personal data from unsuspecting followers, spread disinformation, and monitor or provoke supporters.
It advised members of the public not to follow, like, comment on, share, or otherwise engage with any social media account claiming to represent Kanu, urging them to report such pages as impersonation or scam accounts.
The family also urged supporters to rely only on what it described as verified IPOB communication channels, including official platforms and trusted media affiliates such as Radio Biafra.
The statement warned that individuals who interact with the fake pages do so at their own risk, citing possible exposure of personal information.
The family reiterated that Kanu remains committed to the peaceful pursuit of self-determination for the Biafran cause and renewed its call for his unconditional release.
Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, has been in detention since 2021 following his arrest and extradition to Nigeria.
His detention and trial have continued to attract local and international attention, with supporters repeatedly calling for his release while authorities maintain that he is facing charges related to national security.
