Igbo Community Brings Christmas Cheer to Nnamdi Kanu and 1,300 Sokoto Inmates

In a profound display of communal solidarity that transcended the prison walls of the “Seat of the Caliphate,” the Igbo community in Sokoto State transformed Christmas Day into a moment of humanitarian outreach. The group visited the Sokoto Correctional Centre, the facility where the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is currently serving a life sentence following his conviction in November 2025. What began as a visit to “one of their own” evolved into a massive philanthropic effort that touched the lives of every individual behind bars at the facility.

The leadership of the Igbo community, through a statement signed by Nze A. C. Madu, explained that the initiative was directly inspired by the personal philosophy of the IPOB leader. Since his transfer to the Sokoto prison from DSS custody in Abuja just over a month ago, reports have circulated regarding Kanu’s preference for inclusivity. According to the community leadership, Kanu had expressed a strong desire not to dine alone while those around him went without, particularly during a season defined by the spirit of sharing.

Responding to this sentiment, the Igbo community made a “decisive and inclusive choice” to extend their generosity beyond the high-profile inmate. Rather than preparing a meal solely for Kanu, the group provided festive Christmas lunches for the entire inmate population. This meant that approximately 1,300 prisoners, regardless of their ethnicity, religion, or the nature of their offenses, sat down to a celebratory meal that broke the monotony of standard prison fare.

The logistics of feeding over a thousand people in a secure environment required significant coordination, but the community leadership insisted that the effort was a fulfillment of the core Igbo tenet: Onye Aghana Nwanne Ya—be your brother’s keeper. By providing for the entire facility, the donors sought to demonstrate that the values of charity and fellowship are universal and should be extended to all members of humanity, especially those in the most difficult circumstances.

This Christmas visit occurs at a delicate time for the IPOB leader, who has been in the headlines recently following the rejection of his motion to be transferred back to a facility closer to Abuja. Despite the legal setbacks and the geographic distance from his primary support base in the Southeast, the visit from the local Igbo diaspora in Sokoto served as a reminder of the enduring social ties that follow him. The community noted that the gesture was intended to offer a “moment of comfort” and to remind the inmates that they have not been forgotten by society.

The atmosphere during the visit was described as one of peace and quiet dignity. The community leaders expressed their hope that this act of kindness would serve as a broader message for Nigeria—a call for peace, unity, and a more compassionate approach to the challenges facing the nation. By choosing to feed a diverse inmate population in the far north of the country, the Sokoto Igbo community showcased a model of cross-cultural empathy that many hope will resonate beyond the prison gates.

For the 1,300 inmates, the afternoon of December 25 was defined by a rare sense of inclusivity. The act of “dining together” in a facility so often associated with isolation provided a temporary reprieve from the harsh realities of incarceration. The Sokoto Igbo leadership emphasized that the humanitarian service was performed without prejudice, reinforcing the idea that the “spirit of the season” is most potent when it reaches the most marginalized corners of the community.

As the festive season continues, the story of the Sokoto Prison feast stands out as a unique intersection of politics, culture, and charity. It highlights the role of ethnic unions in providing social support networks, even in the most unlikely of places. For the Igbo community in Sokoto, this Christmas was not just about celebration in their homes, but about taking the values of their heritage into the heart of a correctional facility to foster a sense of shared humanity.