Followers of Simon Ekpa, a Biafran agitator, have declared the formation of the Biafra Republic in Finland, appointing a Chief of Staff and naming 40 states as part of the newly declared republic.
The declaration took place during a conference held in Lahti, Finland, where Ekpa’s supporters gathered to further their cause for an independent Biafran state.
This move, however, has been met with strong opposition from the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who disown the declaration and label Ekpa’s faction as criminals.
In a statement rejecting any association with the event, IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful, emphasized that IPOB had no involvement in the declaration and accused Ekpa’s group of engaging in illegal activities.
“Those people (Ekpa’s faction) are criminals supporting actions that aim to destroy our land. There is no declaration of Biafra coming from us,” Powerful stated.
He further added that any claim that IPOB was organizing a conference was false, asserting that when IPOB decides to make a significant announcement regarding Biafra, it will be widely known.
“Those making such claims are fake,” Powerful declared.
On the other hand, Sunday Edeson, spokesperson for the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), stated that if IPOB were successful in securing Biafra’s independence, MASSOB would celebrate alongside them.
However, he pointed out that the British government would never support the Biafran cause.
Edeson also acknowledged the right of Ekpa’s faction to declare independence but stressed that declaring Biafra in Finland did not equate to freedom from Nigerian control.
“We are still under Nigerian leadership. We continue to use Nigerian currency, and security agencies are still Nigerian. Therefore, we are still under Nigeria’s control.” he said.
