Inmates Declare Nnamdi Kanu ‘President’ Inside Sokoto Prison

There was an unusual scene inside the Sokoto Custodial Centre on Thursday after inmates reportedly proclaimed the detained IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, as “their president.”

The development followed his recent transfer from Abuja to the facility, days after he was handed a life sentence by Justice James Omotosho for multiple terrorism-related offences.

Kanu’s arrival created a stir among prisoners, with several of them rushing towards the reception block where he was brought in.

According to officials familiar with the situation, the inmates began chanting his name before naming him “Prison President,” a title that immediately spread across the compound.

Sources inside the facility said many inmates appeared eager to interact with him, describing him as someone who “confronts authority without fear.”

Some reportedly pushed forward to shake his hand, while others stood at a distance, observing the commotion with curiosity.

A senior correctional officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to comment publicly, confirmed that Kanu’s presence has already changed the atmosphere within the prison.

He explained that the IPOB leader engages other inmates in long conversations about justice, politics, and governance.

According to the officer, Kanu now holds informal talks inside his block, which inmates willingly gather to listen to.

He said many prisoners, including those who were initially indifferent to political issues, now sit quietly whenever Kanu speaks.

The official added that the confidence in his voice appears to be a major factor behind the attention he commands.

The shift in behaviour, he noted, has also influenced the general mood inside the correctional centre, with some inmates regarding him as a symbol of defiance.

Kanu had spent years in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) while battling multiple charges related to secessionist activities, alleged attacks on security agents, destruction of public property, membership of a proscribed group, and the importation of communication equipment.

His relocation to Sokoto marks the beginning of his long-term imprisonment as directed by the court.

In a related development, POLITICS NIGERIA earlier reported that the IPOB leader was sentenced to life imprisonment after he was convicted on all seven counts of terrorism-related charges.

He was subsequently moved from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja and transferred to the Sokoto Custodial Centre to begin serving his jail term.