The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Most Reverend Matthew Hassan Kukah, has paid a significant visit to the Sokoto Custodial Centre, where he met with the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, among other inmates.
Purpose of the Pastoral Visit
Confirming the event, Bishop Kukah stated that his visit on Thursday, December 18, 2025, was part of his annual Christmas-season tradition of engaging with prisoners. He emphasised that his pastoral duty focuses on the individual, not their circumstances.
"We focus on human beings, not their condition. We do not judge people," the cleric explained. He described the practice as a yearly outreach where he listens to inmates' concerns and shares fellowship with them, irrespective of their legal status or background.
Reactions from Kanu's Camp and the Public
The visit was notably celebrated by one of Nnamdi Kanu's legal representatives, Aloy Ejimakor. He took to social media to express gratitude, interpreting the bishop's actions as a gesture of solidarity.
Ejimakor stated, "As the distinguished Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, your visitation symbolises your solidarity & that of Sokoto Diocese with #MNK in this time of distress."
The development has sparked varied reactions from Nigerians online:
- A user identified as FAB thanked the bishop, calling him a "strong voice" and a "messenger of the establishment," suggesting the visit carried profound symbolic weight.
- Lotus Vegas offered prayers for Nnamdi Kanu's protection and criticised the government's approach.
- Conversely, some commentators like Belugo and Emmanuel Okonronkwo were critical, with the former urging caution and the latter viewing the act as an attempt to regain public trust.
Context of Kanu's Incarceration
The meeting occurs against the backdrop of Nnamdi Kanu's ongoing detention and sentencing. Recall that the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, had previously convicted and handed multiple sentences to the IPOB leader on terrorism charges.
This visit by a prominent religious figure like Bishop Kukah, known for his social commentary, adds a new dimension to the ongoing discourse surrounding Kanu's case and the broader issues of dialogue and detention in Nigeria.
