IPOB claims diplomatic breakthrough after Israeli lawmakers receive delegation

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has described the reception of its delegation by two senior members of Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, as a diplomatic breakthrough in its international campaign over the continued detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

In a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, the group said the delegation, coordinated by Mazi Chris Nwaọgụ, head of IPOB’s Fourth Administration of the Directorate of State, was received in Jerusalem by Knesset Deputy Speaker Nissim Vaturi and Limor Son Har-Melech, Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee.

IPOB said the meeting marked “a significant milestone” in what it described as its peaceful international diplomatic outreach, expressing appreciation to the Israeli lawmakers for what it called a warm and productive engagement.

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According to the group, the discussions reflected Kanu’s long-held belief that the Biafra agitation would benefit from strategic partnerships with Israel and the United States based on shared values of justice, liberty and human dignity.

The group also said the meeting underscored what it described as historical ties between the Jewish and Biafran peoples, citing shared experiences of persecution, discrimination and displacement. It argued that Israel’s establishment in 1948 remains an inspiration to the Biafran cause.

IPOB further maintained that an independent Biafra would provide a safe homeland for persecuted Judeo-Christians and other vulnerable minorities in Nigeria, while insisting that self-determination remained the only lasting solution to insecurity in the South-East.

The group said it would continue to pursue what it described as lawful and peaceful diplomatic engagement, adding that similar advocacy efforts were ongoing in Washington, D.C., and other international capitals.

“No amount of political pressure or financial influence can permanently suppress a people’s legitimate quest for freedom when pursued with dignity and in accordance with international norms,” the statement said.

It reaffirmed its commitment to non-violent agitation, the rule of law and constructive international engagement, while thanking the Israeli lawmakers and the government and people of Israel for receiving its delegation.

Kanu, the founder of IPOB, has remained in the custody of Nigerian authorities since his re-arrest in 2021. He is serving a life sentence after being convicted on terrorism-related charges in late 2025 and is currently being held at a correctional facility in Sokoto.