The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has alleged that Nnamdi Kanu, its leader, is being tortured in detention by the Department of State Services (DSS), with the eventual target to “secretly execute” him.

The group, which is campaigning for an independent state for the Igbo, also alleged that Kanu was “very ill” and needed urgent medical attention.

“Information getting to us now is that the director of DSS and Buhari are planning to kill some Igbo-Biafrans working for the DSS in other to secretly execute Nnamdi Kanu,” it alleged in a statement published on its website “Biafra Herald,” on Thursday.

“For months now reports have been coming to us on how Nnamdi Kanu is been tortured in the dungeon of the DSS. Nnamdi Kanu is reported to be very ill and needs urgent care and treatment but the DSS on the order of Buhari have refused to grant him any treatment.

“Some Igbo-Biafrans who are members of the DSS have expressed their displeasure towards the treatment of Nnamdi Kanu, this resulting to Buhari and the director of DSS secretly plotting way to murder them. This information got to us is from a very reliable source and our advice to Buhari is to release Nnamdi Kanu, and also to stop torturing him because any harm done to him, will result to a war Nigeria can’t handle.

“We are calling on all IPOB members to get ready for action as instructions will be given by our deputy. We are calling all coordinators to start mobilizing all IPOB members and be on alert.”

TheCable spoke with Vincent Obetta, Kanu’s lawyer, who could not say the exact medical state of his client.

“I don’t know his state of health. They have refused to give me access to see him. I have made every effort to see him since 23 of December, but I have not been given access. So, I don’t know is condition now,” he said.

“If he is being tortured, I don’t know, but I got the rumour that he is being tortured. I am still pressing to get access to him.”

In December 2015, Adeniyi Ademola, justice of the federal high court, Abuja, had ordered the release of Kanu unconditionally, but the DSS failed to comply with the order.

Instead, it filed a suit against him before Ahmed Mohammed, another judge, at the federal high court, Abuja, who withdrew from the case after Kanu refused to take his plea.

Kanu is accused of treason, ownership of unlawful society and illegal possession of firearms.

The DSS could not be reached for an official reaction to the allegations.