DSS Did Not Announce that Nnamdi Kanu Escaped from Detention – (Fact-Check)

Several Facebook posts have claimed that Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Services (DSS) said the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, escaped from detention at its office in Abuja in January 2025. Part of one of the Facebook posts reads:

“The Department of State Services (DSS) has announced that Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has escaped from their detention facility. A manhunt has been launched to locate his whereabouts.”

The Facebook post was accompanied by photos of the embattled IPOB leader, armed DSS personnel and an abandoned prison.

Recall that Kanu has been detained by the DSS since June 2021 when he was re-arrested in Kenya and was moved to Nigeria to continue his trial.

The leader of the proscribed IPOB was first arrested in October 2015 and was charged in court with an 11-count charge, including terrorism and treasonable felony. This came after he led the agitation for the secession of the southeast from Nigeria, naming it the Republic of Biafra.

As detailed in the complete version, there are several key factors to consider.

But in September 2017, the secessionist jumped bail and left the country following a military raid on his home. In March 2019, the court revoked his bail and ordered that he should be re-arrested.

In January 2025, Africa Check, a fact-checking organisation, fact-checked the recent claim that Kanu had escaped from the DSS custody.

See one of the posts here:

Fact-checked: DSS did not announce any escape

However, there was no evidence to back up the claims and the Facebook posts did not give details.

Also, the event was not reported by any credible media, pointing out that the claim was a red flag, based on the importance of public interest in Kanu’s case.

The accompanied photos in the post are old and are not related to the claim. Dozens of media reports have used the one showing the armed DSS officials, in news that are related to the secret police. According to Africa Check, it is backdated to 2016.

Additionally, the DSS website which usually publishes press releases has no record of Kanu escaping from the custody. The DSS did not announce that the IPOB leader had escaped from its custody.