A veteran Nollywood actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to interfere and approve the release of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

Kanayo made the appeal in his message to the President to mark his 60th birthday on Wednesday.

The mayor also told the New York Times in an interview that a group of about 10 armed Russian officers, including the commander of forces attacking the city, entered the city hall building Wednesday.

He said he was informed by the Russian officers that they were planning to set up a new administration similar to those in two Russian-backed separatist enclaves in eastern Ukraine.