Mazi Chika Edoziem has been named the new leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, or IPOB.

IPOB declared that Edoziem would oversee its operations until the release of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

According to a statement made by the group's spokesperson, Emma Powerful, Edoziem will hand over leadership to Kanu after his release.

For the sake of clarity, the statement states in part: "Whenever our leader, Mazi Nnamdi KANU, comes out, he hands over the IPOB structure back to him. The Directorate of State of the Indigenous People of Biafra (DOS), headed by Mazi Chika Edoziem, is in charge of affairs of the Biafra movement.

Edoziem is thought to be the IPOB's vice-president.

Currently, Kanu is detained by the Department of State Services, or DSS.

The IPOB leader has been detained by the DSS ever since he was recaptured and brought home from Kenya in 2011.