By our reporter| The Kenyan high commissioner to Nigeria, Wilfred Machage on Friday denied that Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was arrested in Kenya.
Following the arrest and deportation to Nigeria by security agents on Sunday, his brother, Kingsley Kanu, in a statement earlier this week said his brother was apprehended in Kenya.
But speaking on Friday at a press briefing, the Kenyan high commissioner said the allegation was “concocted” to pitch Nigerians in the south-east against the Kenyan people.
“I want to address the allegation by denying that Kenya was involved in the alleged arrest in Kenya and extradition to Nigeria of Mr. Kanu,” Machage said.
“The allegation is fictional, imaginary, and deliberately concocted to fuel antagonistic feeling amongst the southern section of the Nigerian people against the Kenya people.
“Indeed many countries have been accused — Rwanda, Czech Republic, Britain, Ethiopia — and God knows which other countries.
“I want to challenge anyone with facts relating to this alleged arrest in Kenya to present this fact. This will include how and who was particularly involved in the alleged arrest.
“Nigeria is a sovereign country. It’s your country. Instead of facing the Kenyan high commission in Nigeria to ask some of these questions, you should face your government.
“The government of Nigeria knows how they arrested him. They have the answers, not me.”
Alexander Muteshi, Kenya director-general of Immigration Services, had earlier in an interview with the country’s Newspaper, Daily Nation, also dismissed the claim that the IPOB leader was arrested in Kenya.
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