Fact Check: Did Pope Leo XIV Urge President Tinubu to Release Nnamdi Kanu in June 2025?
June 18, 2025 — Claims circulating on social media suggesting that Pope Leo XIV called on Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), are false and misleading.
A viral Facebook post by a page named National Politics and News Update featured an image of Pope Leo XIV alongside a caption that read:
“Breaking News: Pope Leo XIV Urges Nigerian Government to Release Nnamdi Kanu, Advocates for Peace in Nigeria and Africa.”
In a similar post, a user named Agozi Comedy shared a video falsely claiming that Pope Leo met with President Tinubu in Rome to plead for Kanu’s release. The video alleges that “Pope Leo XVI and other bishops in Rome plead with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu so peace can be restored in South-South.”
Verification and Fact-Check
Dubawa, a credible fact-checking organization, debunked the claims after analyzing the video using Google Lens. The video in question was originally captured during Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration ceremony on May 8, 2025, and not during any diplomatic meeting concerning Kanu.
According to Dubawa’s investigation:
- The video shows President Tinubu meeting with Nigerian bishops who attended Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration at the Vatican.
- Pope Leo XIV was not present during this meeting with Tinubu.
- No reference was made to Nnamdi Kanu during the event.
- There are no official statements, press releases, or credible news reports confirming that Pope Leo XIV requested Kanu’s release.
Conclusion
There is no verifiable evidence that Pope Leo XIV appealed to the Nigerian government for the release of Nnamdi Kanu. The claims shared on Facebook are false and lack credible sources. Neither a direct meeting between Pope Leo and President Tinubu on this matter nor any official plea concerning Kanu’s release took place.
