The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have disassociated themselves from Simon Ekpa, who claims to be the Prime Minister of the Biafra Government in Exile (BRGIE).
Ekpa, along with four others, was arrested in Finland over allegations of terror-related activities. Finnish authorities stated that he is suspected of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent, while the others were arrested for financing such activities. According to Finnish police, the suspect has allegedly used his social media platforms to promote actions that resulted in violence against civilians and authorities in southeastern Nigeria.
Reacting to the arrest, IPOB, through its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, stated that Simon Ekpa is not a registered member of IPOB. The group accused Ekpa of recruiting violent criminals to destabilize the southeastern region and creating a group called the Biafra Liberation Army under the infamous BRGIE.
A statement from IPOB clarified:
Simon Ekpa has never been a member of IPOB, nor has he held any leadership position within the movement.
IPOB remains a peaceful organization advocating for Biafra’s independence through a supervised UN referendum and has never resorted to violence in its two-decade-long struggle for self-determination.
Ekpa’s activities, including violent acts against civilians and alleged affiliations with criminal groups, are in no way connected to IPOB’s objectives or strategies.
The statement also highlighted that Ekpa and his group are responsible for numerous violent crimes in the southeastern region, including kidnappings, killings, and destruction of property. IPOB emphasized that its global movement does not support or engage in violent agitation, instead relying on civil disobedience to demand a referendum for self-determination.
IPOB further urged the authorities and public to avoid associating Simon Ekpa with their movement, stating that any attempts to link him to IPOB are deliberate acts of misinformation and blackmail. They called for calm among their members and reaffirmed their commitment to achieving Biafra’s sovereignty through peaceful means.
The group concluded by asserting that despite diplomatic shielding, those responsible for crimes will eventually face justice.
