The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed secessionist group, has publicly distanced itself from Simon Ekpa, a Finland-based Biafran agitator.
In a statement issued on Friday, IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, emphasized that Ekpa was never a member of IPOB and was never registered with any of the group’s chapters, including the one in Finland.
Ekpa, who has been a controversial figure in the Biafra independence movement, was arrested on Thursday by Finnish authorities.
The arrest was linked to his alleged involvement in spreading terrorist propaganda via social media back in 2021.
Following his arrest, the district court of Päijät-Häme in Finland placed Ekpa in custody. Alongside Ekpa, four other individuals were apprehended in connection with suspected terrorist activities.
IPOB strongly condemned Ekpa, calling him a “destructive agent” who was hired to infiltrate and undermine the peaceful self-determination movement of IPOB.
The group also criticized both the Nigerian and Finnish governments for allegedly shielding Ekpa from earlier attempts at arrest.
In the statement, IPOB clarified that Simon Ekpa was never part of their organization, nor did he have any leadership role within it.
IPOB, led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has consistently advocated for Biafra’s independence through peaceful means, specifically through a UN-supervised referendum.
IPOB’s leadership lamented that some Biafrans were misled into believing Ekpa was a genuine advocate for their cause, only to later realize he was working to destabilize the movement.
The dispute between IPOB and Ekpa traces back to 2021 when Ekpa was briefly appointed to manage Radio Biafra, the broadcast wing of the movement, after Kanu’s arrest.
However, Ekpa was quickly removed from this role after he refused to adhere to the organization’s engagement rules. This led to a fracture within the group, with Ekpa going on to form his own faction.
He became increasingly outspoken against IPOB’s leadership, issuing his own directives, including the controversial sit-at-home orders in southeastern Nigeria, which have been linked to violence and unrest.
Ekpa later declared himself the prime minister of the Biafra government in exile and formed an armed group called the ‘Biafra Liberation Army.’ Through social media, he has spread disinformation, incited violence, and shared gruesome images related to the unrest in southeastern Nigeria.
IPOB has repeatedly distanced itself from Ekpa’s actions, denouncing his calls for violence and disassociating the group from his self-declared leadership.
