- The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) reaffirmed commitment to peaceful movement
- IPOB rejected Ekpa's leadership claims, said he was never a member
- Simon Ekpa was accused of recruiting violent criminals in the south-east
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which has been proscribed, clarified that Simon Ekpa, the divisive Biafra campaigner, was never a member of the group.
Emma Powerful, the IPOB spokesperson, disclosed this in a statement that was issued on Friday, November 22, branding Ekpa a "destructive agent" tasked with "infiltrating and ruining" IPOB’s "peaceful movement."
IPOB speaks out against Ekpa amid arrest in Finland
“Simon Ekpa was never and is not an IPOB member, let alone being a leader in IPOB. IPOB has some 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 read in part.
IPOB emphasised that Ekpa does not have official membership in the Finland chapter and is not entitled to lead the group.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu established IPOB as a peaceful movement to seek Biafra Independence via a supervised UN referendum.
“IPOB is a peaceful global movement that has never taken to violence or arms struggle in two decades of our self-determination struggle.
“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 for Biafra self-determination. He recruited violent criminals to destabilise the South East Region in 2021.
“The Simon Ekpa-led group has no alliance, affiliation or relationship with IPOB family worldwide. He recruited his criminal gangs who have been terrorising the Biafran territory since 2021,” the statement read.
IPOB distances itself from Ekpa’s claims of leadership role
According to Powerful, the Nigerian and Finnish governments were obstructing efforts to apprehend Ekpa.
“The Nigerian government and politicians that contracted Simon Ekpa have been making strenuous efforts to tag the violent crimes of their agent on IPOB just to blackmail and demonise the genuine and peaceful Biafra self-determination struggle of the Biafran people led by the IPOB.
“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,” the statement read.
Nnamdi Kanu's arrest leads to Ekpa's appointment, others
Recall that in June 2021, after Nnamdi Kanu's arrest, Ekpa was appointed to lead Radio Biafra, the broadcast wing of the proscribed organisation.
Weeks later, Powerful made it known that Ekpa had been relieved of his duties for his refusal to sign the terms of engagement with Radio Biafra.
The development led to a split within the IPOB leadership, with Ekpa forming his own faction afterwards. The Ekpa-led faction was accused of fueling the growing violence in the south-east, which saw the killing of police officers and soldiers.
On Thursday, November 21, Ekpa was arrested by Finland law enforcement in the country. He was subsequently jailed by the Päijät-Häme district court for “spreading terrorist propaganda on social media”.
Nigeria’s Defence Chief Musa welcomes Simon Ekpa’s arrest, hopes for extradition
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that General Christopher Gwabin Musa, Nigeria's Chief of Defence Staff indicated his belief in the likelihood of Simon Ekpa's extradition to Nigeria.
Ekpa was accused of inciting violence in Nigeria through his social media platforms.