By Anyi Kings
Published On the Biafra Post
Biafra or Death" was a mantra popularized by Nnamdi Kanu that inspired millions to embrace the Biafran struggle with enthusiasm, despite the enormous sacrifices involved. How did we get here? Let us take a journey down memory lane and determine who is reneging on our collective oath.
A freedom fighter is expected to face three challenges without complaint because they are part of the price paid for freedom until the objective is achieved:
Death
Prison
Exile
I am one of the victims of exile because of my involvement in the Biafra struggle—not because I committed any crime, but because of my role as a media critic of the Nigerian government. I live in exile with joy for what I believe in, fully expecting that Biafra will one day be restored and that I will be completely free. I am not lobbying to return home.
Likewise, many top IPOB principal officers, especially members of the Directorate of State (DOS), are victims of exile because of their commitment to Biafra's restoration. Commander Ikonso rejected the opportunity to become an Ebubeagu commander and chose instead to remain an ESN commander. He paid for that decision with his life.
Thousands of IPOB supporters came out to protest for Biafra and were allegedly killed by security forces, while others were forcibly disappeared. They paid the price for what they believed in.
In many of his broadcasts, Nnamdi Kanu emphasized sacrifice as an essential component of the struggle for Biafra. His words inspired many IPOB members to endure hardship with joy. Some lost their lives, others were displaced from their homes, lost businesses and jobs, while many ended up in prison or exile.
Kanu repeatedly urged members to be fearless before their enemies. He also declared his readiness to die for the cause, insisting that his death would bring Biafra closer and accelerate its restoration.
Today, however, many people are beginning to wonder whether Kanu has abandoned the "Biafra or Death" principle he once championed. Critics argue that he is now distancing himself from previous positions, encouraging members to participate in Nigerian political parties and pursue political offices within a united Nigeria, while allegedly working to weaken the IPOB movement in pursuit of his own freedom.
If he is drowning, he should smile and say, "I drowned for what I believed in." He should not deny everything he once stood for in pursuit of a political or presidential pardon.
Nnamdi Kanu challenged the Nigerian state. He spoke forcefully against the government and took actions that he said were aimed at achieving Biafra. He presented himself as a leader of a movement dedicated to that objective.
Everything he did, he claimed, was for Biafra.
If sacrifices were demanded, they were demanded for Biafra.
If risks were taken, they were taken for Biafra.
If lives were lost, supporters believed those losses occurred in pursuit of Biafra.
Now that the consequences have arrived, critics argue that he should stand by his words and actions instead of attempting to rewrite history.
If he dies for Biafra, supporters can remember him as a martyr.
If he spends the rest of his life in prison for Biafra, supporters can remember him as a prisoner of conscience.
But to spend years promoting a message of sacrifice and then turn around to deny everything when faced with personal consequences is, in the eyes of many supporters, deeply disappointing.
That is the issue many people are raising today.
Anyi Kings
June 5, 2026
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