IPOB Leader Kanu Warns of Collapse, Stroke Amid DSS Neglect

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has raised serious concerns over his health while in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), claiming he is battling multiple life-threatening conditions that could lead to collapse, stroke, or sudden death.

In a detailed letter to the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Kanu disclosed that tinnitus and severe sleep deprivation are among the gravest threats to his survival. He described the constant “chirping” in his ears as debilitating, worsening his hypertension, and compromising his body’s ability to heal.

Kanu also revealed he is dealing with liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder, and prostate disorders, white matter disease, and sleep apnea. He stated that DSS doctors once considered draining fluid from his inner ear but abandoned the procedure due to the risk of permanent hearing loss. Since then, he claimed, no adequate medical attention has been provided.

The IPOB leader accused DSS-appointed doctor, Nasiru Mohammed, of falsifying his medical records, including recording normal potassium levels when they were dangerously low. He questioned the continued prescription of potassium-sparing drugs without justification and listed persistent symptoms under DSS care: frequent nosebleeds, fainting episodes, severe light-headedness, chest pains, swelling of the feet, and debilitating headaches.

Kanu further stated that his longtime personal physician, Dr. Cfine, was barred from attending to him and intimidated into silence until Emeritus Professor Martin Aghaji intervened. Under their supervision, Kanu reported modest improvements: potassium levels rose, nosebleeds and fainting stopped, swelling reduced, and headaches subsided.

Despite this, tinnitus and sleep deprivation continue to make his life “unbearable,” according to Kanu. He urged the NMA to intervene, warning that neglect of his conditions demonstrates a reckless disregard for his life.

The letter has renewed calls for proper medical attention for Kanu and intensified scrutiny of the DSS’s management of high-profile detainees.