A United States Congressman, John James, has renewed calls for the release of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
James made the appeal on the floor of the House of Representatives on Thursday. He tied Kanu’s continued detention to what he described as a pattern of religious persecution against Christians in Nigeria.
Resolution calls for fresh trial or unconditional release
The Michigan lawmaker referenced H.Res. 1321, a resolution he introduced on May 22, 2026. The resolution calls on the Nigerian government to ensure that all legal proceedings involving Kanu comply with the country’s constitutional obligations.
The resolution remains before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Meanwhile, James used the podium to describe Nigeria as the deadliest place on Earth to be a Christian. He alleged that tens of thousands of Christians have lost their lives since 2019.
James alleges religiously motivated violence
He said the killings formed part of a sustained pattern of religiously motivated violence by Islamist jihadists. He also claimed that the Nigerian government has ignored or enabled these attacks.
“Since 2019, tens of thousands of Christians in Nigeria have been slaughtered as part of a sustained pattern of religiously motivated violence by Islamist jihadis ignored or enabled by the Nigerian government,” James said.
He added that extremist groups, including Boko Haram, operate without any meaningful response from Nigerian authorities.
Kanu’s trial described as a farce
Turning to Kanu’s case, James described the IPOB leader as a courageous figure. He claimed Kanu received conviction in what he called a farce show trial for speaking out against the killings.
He said Kanu, who is serving a life sentence on terrorism charges, deserves either a fresh trial or unconditional freedom.
“I implore my colleagues to support my bill, H.Res. 1321, calling on the Nigerian government to conduct another trial in accordance with its own constitution based on evidence with access to legal counsel, medical care, and international law pertaining to humane conditions of detention, or better yet, release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu immediately and unconditionally,” James said.
US funding for Nigeria under threat
He warned that continued US financial support for Nigeria could not go unchallenged. He also stressed that America has a moral obligation to ensure Christians in Nigeria can worship freely.
“America gives billions to Nigeria. We will not continue to fund a Christian genocide,” James declared.
A Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment on November 20, 2025. He is currently held at the Correctional Centre in Kuje, Abuja, following his arrest in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2021.
Read also: ‘No reason to detain Nnamdi Kanu; I’d negotiate with agitators if elected president’ — Obi
