The Indigenous People of Biafra has disassociated itself from the self-acclaimed Prime Minister of the Biafra Government in Exile, Simon Ekpa, following his arrest by Finnish authorities on charges linked to terrorism.
Simon Ekpa, a Nigerian-Finnish citizen, was arrested alongside four others in Finland on allegations of inciting public violence and financing terrorism. The Finnish police revealed that Ekpa is suspected of using social media to promote violence against civilians and authorities in South-East Nigeria.
The Finnish police stated, “The detention demands are related to the preliminary investigation, in which a Finnish citizen of Nigerian background, born in the 1980s, is suspected of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.
“The police suspect that the man has promoted his efforts from Finland by means that have led to violence against civilians and authorities as well as other crimes in the region of South-Eastern Nigeria.”
Crime Commissioner Otto Hiltunen, head of the investigation, added:
“The man has carried out this activity, among other things, on his social media channels. Four other persons are suspected of financing the activity above. All five suspects of the crime have been arrested at the beginning of the week. International cooperation has been carried out during the preliminary investigation.”
In response to the arrest, IPOB’s spokesperson Emma Powerful released a statement categorically denying any connection between IPOB and Simon Ekpa. According to the group, Ekpa’s activities and his leadership of the BGIE are aimed at destabilizing the South-East region, contrary to IPOB’s peaceful advocacy for self-determination.
Emma Powerful stated, “The attention of the global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been drawn to the news of the arrest and subsequent claim by the infamous Prime Minister of Biafra Government in Exile (BRGIE) Simon Ekpa of being an IPOB member. To set the records and facts straight, Simon Ekpa has never been a member of the global IPOB family movement.
“Contrary to the deliberate and malicious misinformation from the Neo-colonialist news agency, the BBC, that Simon Ekpa is an IPOB leader, Simon Ekpa has never and is not an IPOB member, let alone being a leader in IPOB. IPOB is a peaceful global movement that has never taken to violence or armed struggle in two decades of our self-determination struggle.”
Emma Powerful further accused Ekpa of exploiting innocent supporters of the Biafra cause, recruiting violent criminals, and forming the Biafra Liberation Army, a group allegedly responsible for kidnappings, killings, and destruction in the region.
He continued, “It was unfortunate that some innocent Biafrans, being passionate for the restoration of the stolen sovereignty of the Biafran nation, thought that Simon Ekpa was genuinely sympathetic to the Biafra cause. Sadly, they had to learn the hard way that he was a destructive agent paid to infiltrate and destroy the IPOB peaceful movement.
“He is a self-acclaimed prime minister of a small criminally minded group called the Biafra Government in Exile (BGIE). The infamous BGIE led by Simon Ekpa created a violent group that calls themselves the Biafra Liberation Army.”
The IPOB statement strongly condemned attempts to associate Ekpa with IPOB, accusing politicians and governments of using him to tarnish the group’s image.
“IPOB is by this press release calling on BBC News and Finnish authorities to note that Simon Ekpa has never and does not have any relationship whatsoever with IPOB in Finland or any other unit globally. IPOB does not support the violent agitation that he represents. IPOB is a peaceful movement that has adopted civil disobedience to press our demand for a referendum.”
The group urged its members and supporters to remain calm, stressing that its commitment to the peaceful restoration of Biafra’s sovereignty remains unwavering.
Emma Powerful stated, “On the purported arrest of Simon Ekpa, all IPOB members, Biafrans, and lovers of Biafra freedom should remain calm and focused on our core objective, which is the restoration of the sovereign state of Biafra.”
