The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has distanced itself from controversial Biafra agitator Simon Ekpa, following his recent arrest in Finland.
IPOB, in a statement issued on Friday, vehemently denied any association with Ekpa and declared that he was never a member of the group and cannot be its leader.
Finland-based separatist Akpa was arrested by law enforcement in the northern European country on Thursday and jailed by the district court of Padgett-Haam for spreading terrorist propaganda on social media.
The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) also arrested four other people in connection with alleged terrorist crimes. The charges against Ekpaa relate to an incident in 2021 in Lahti Municipality, Finland, where he allegedly disseminated material promoting terrorism.
In her statement, IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful stressed that Ekpa has no connection with the group, saying, “Simon Ekpa was never and is never a member of IPOB, let alone a leader in IPOB. It is a distant matter.
“IPOB has few family units in Finland, and Simon Ekpa is not a registered member of any IPOB unit in Finland or any other IPOB unit globally.”
The statement further clarified that IPOB, under the leadership of its leader Nnamdi Kanu, has always been a peaceful movement advocating the independence of Biafra through a UN-monitored referendum.
IPOB condemned Ekpa as a “subversive agent” who had infiltrated the Biafra movement for personal gain. The statement further said, “It was unfortunate that some innocent Biafrans, passionate about the restoration of the stolen sovereignty of the Biafran nation, thought that Simon Ekpa was actually sympathetic to Biafra.”
“Sadly, they had to learn the hard way that he was a subversive agent who was paid to infiltrate and destroy the IPOB peaceful movement for Biafra self-determination.”
Ekpa, who was appointed to manage Radio Biafra following Kanu's arrest in June 2021, was soon dismissed from the role for failing to sign the terms of engagement for the station.
Following his ouster, Ekpa formed his own faction, and issued orders such as the controversial sit-in-at-home directive in Nigeria's south-east, which was repeatedly rejected by IPOB's leadership.
The Ekpa-led group has been linked to increasing violence in the region, including attacks on security forces and destruction of public property.
Recently, Ekpa declared himself “Prime Minister” of the Biafra Government in Exile (BGIE) and formed an armed group called the 'Biafra Liberation Army'.
Using social media, they spread misinformation, shared graphic images of killings by non-state actors and called for the destruction of public facilities.
IPOB reiterated that Ekpa's actions do not represent its peaceful movement and called on Biafrans and IPOB members to remain focused on its ultimate goal: the peaceful restoration of the sovereign state of Biafra.
The IPOB leadership has consistently distanced itself from Ekpa, insisting that he and his faction were responsible for the violence that has affected Nigeria's southeastern region since 2021.
“The Simon Ekpa led group has no alliance, affiliation or connection with the IPOB family worldwide,” the statement concluded.
“The Nigerian government and politicians who contracted Simon Ekpa are working hard to tag the violent crimes of their agents on IPOB to blackmail and discredit the genuine and peaceful Biafra self-determination struggle of the Biafran people under the leadership of IPOB. Are.”
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