Apex Igbo sociocultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, said not less than 983 agitators of Republic of Biafra are currently being detained by the government.

Ohanaeze in a statement issued on Friday by its Secretary-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said, “182 Igbo prisoners of conscience mainly youths and women are current­ly languishing in Port Harcourt Maximum corrections Center on awaiting trial over related cases of Biafra agitation be­tween 2016 and 2021.

“It’s our obligations to alert the federal government to ensure that whatever Nnamdi Kanu stands out to benefit must be extended to these young­sters whose crimes were only wearing of Biafra costumes and identity cards, no matter what, this is the first time we are speaking for their behalf, and they deserve pardon like Nnamdi Kanu.”

Isiguzoro cautioned against seg­regation on the ongoing clas­sified negotiations between a few Igbo politicians/elder statesmen and the federal government for the release of a few leaders of Biafran agitators.

“The federal government should ensure that the Igbo negotiation team who are ready to help FG have a secret peace deal with Nnamdi Kanu must include these Biafran detainees in any decision to be reached.

“FG should use the government’s instrumen­tality to secure the release of all the Biafran detainees in various corrections facilities at Port Harcourt, Asaba, Ow­erri, Awka, Enugu, Umuahia, Onitsha, Abakaliki and Aba for peace to be restored. The feder­al government should demand for the comprehensive lists of all Biafran detainees and join it in the ongoing peace deal with Nnamdi Kanu’s team.

“We are using this medi­um to plead with all repented Biafra firebrands to lay down their grievances and surrender to the federal government and receive clemency and acquit­tals,” the statement added.