Information Minister denies threatening Israel over Nnamdi Kanu

The Minister of information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has described as fake news, reports that he gave Israel ultimatum to deport the leader of the Indegenous People of Biafra (IPOB), INnamdi Kanu, or Nigeria will send them missiles.

Mohammed refuted the alleged news report while speaking with State House correspondents on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He reiterated that “fake news is the biggest threat in the run up to the elections.”

According to him, the Federal Government has been vindicated over claims that Nnamdi Kanu was in the custody of the Nigerian Army.

He said: “I was in London when I heard the story about Nnamdi Kanu surfacing in Israel. I was not in a position to make any statement.

But before I knew it, within a few hours, I saw my picture with a story saying that I had actually given Israel ultimatum to return Nnamdi Kanu otherwise, we will send them missiles.

“I just laughed. It speaks to what we are talking about fake news because it is probably the biggest threat in the run-up to the elections.

“Having said that, I have nothing more to add, to the issue of Nnamdi Kanu. At the appropriate time, the various authorities will make a statement about the issue of Kanu.

“But this has proven that all along when Kanu disappeared and the mob was asking the Nigerian army to account for the whereabouts of Kanu; I kept saying that Kanu knows where he is.

“He was not in the custody of the Federal Government. We have been vindicated today. Any other statement will be made in due course,” he stated.

The Daily Times recalls that Kanu had disappeared for several months after the Nigerian Army launched an exercise code-named “Operation Python Dance” which saw a clash between the army and IPOB members at Kanu’s hometown in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

After the incident, many, especially IPOB members accused the Federal Government of assassinating or kidnapping the IPOB leader.

However, months later, Nnamdi Kanu reappeared in Israel where a video footage showed him to have gone to pray at the “Wailing Wall.”

Nnamdi Kanu, thereafter, made a live broadcast through the Radio Biafra, on Sunday, where he said that the argitation for the freedom of Biafra will continue.

In the broadcast, Kanu also called on the IPOB supporters not to take part in elections in Nigeria.