The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL has thrown its weight behind the move by the Southeast governors to secure the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

CEOAFRICA reports that Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS since 2021 when he was re-arrested.

The five governors in the region under the aegis of the Southeast Governors’ Forum, met in Enugu State on Tuesday with a resolve to meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the release of the IPOB leader.

Reacting to the move, COSEY, in a statement issued by its President General, Goodluck Ibem noted that Kanu’s freedom “is critical for the security and peace in the region”.

The group claimed that some criminal elements have capitalised on Kanu’s incarceration to perpetrate crimes in the region using IPOB as a cover-up.

“The release of Kanu will usher in security, progress and development as businessmen and women who have been out of business due to insecurity will return to their economic activities.

“Releasing Nnamdi Kanu will pave the way for dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the longstanding issues in the southeastern region.

“This will help de-escalate tensions and foster a more constructive conversation between the government and other agitation groups in the nation.

“We therefore urge the father of the nation and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider releasing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in order to restore peace, unity, progress, national cohesion and integration”, the statement added.