A wave of unexpected excitement swept through the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Sokoto following the transfer of IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, as inmates unanimously declared him their “Prison President,” according to credible prison sources.
Kanu, who had been held at the Department of State Services (DSS) detention facility in Abuja throughout his prolonged legal battle, was recently moved to Sokoto Prisons after being sentenced to life imprisonment over charges related to the importation of an unregistered radio transmitter.
But his transfer sparked scenes of drama and intense emotion inside the custodial centre.
Daily Sun reports that upon his arrival, inmates rushed toward him, eager to shake his hand and catch a glimpse of the separatist figure many described as “fearless” and “unshakably bold.”
“He didn’t even settle in yet when the chants began,” an inmate witness said. “People were shouting ‘President! President!’ They said he is a man who speaks the truth without fear.”
A senior prison official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed the development, describing Kanu’s reception as unlike anything the facility had witnessed in years.
“Once he stepped in, everything changed,” the official said. “Kanu has practically turned his cell block into a mini Radio Biafra. He speaks, and everyone listens. Even those who didn’t agree with him before now sit quietly. It’s not force—his words pull them.”
The official added that the IPOB leader’s charisma has significantly altered the atmosphere within the prison.
“Whether you support his ideology or not, you cannot deny that he speaks boldly, fearlessly, and with deep conviction. That alone has made him a prominent force in this place,” he said.
Kanu’s unexpected rise to “Prison President” has sparked conversations about his influence both within and outside prison walls, particularly as debates around his conviction and the wider agitation for Biafra continue.
Further developments are expected as authorities assess the growing influence of the separatist leader within the facility.