The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed group, has disassociated itself from Simon Ekpa, a controversial Biafra agitator, stating that he was never a member of the organization.
According to IPOB, Ekpa is not registered with the group’s Finland chapter and cannot claim leadership within its ranks. This clarification follows Ekpa’s recent arrest in Finland, where he was charged with “spreading terrorist propaganda on social media” in connection to crimes committed in 2021 in Lahti. Alongside Ekpa, Finnish authorities also detained four other individuals for alleged terrorist activities.
Emma Powerful, IPOB’s spokesperson, released a statement on Friday labeling Ekpa a “destructive agent” allegedly sponsored to undermine the group’s peaceful self-determination movement. Powerful accused both the Nigerian and Finnish governments of shielding Ekpa before his arrest.
“Simon Ekpa has never been a member of IPOB, let alone a leader,” the statement read. “He is not affiliated with any IPOB unit in Finland or globally. IPOB, under Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, remains a peaceful organization advocating for Biafra’s independence through a United Nations-supervised referendum.”
The statement criticized Ekpa for recruiting violent elements to destabilize the South-East region, tarnishing IPOB’s image as a peaceful organization over its two decades of self-determination efforts.
A FRACTURED MOVEMENT
The division between Ekpa and IPOB’s leadership stems from his appointment in 2021 to manage Radio Biafra after Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest. IPOB later removed him from the position, citing his refusal to adhere to the station’s rules. This fallout led Ekpa to form a faction separate from IPOB, issuing directives that often conflicted with the group’s policies, including the controversial sit-at-home orders in Nigeria’s South-East.
Ekpa’s faction has been accused of escalating violence in the region, including attacks on police and military personnel. IPOB has consistently distanced itself from such activities, maintaining that its struggle is nonviolent.
Recently, Ekpa declared himself the “Prime Minister” of a so-called Biafra Government in Exile (BGIE) and announced the formation of an armed group, the Biafra Liberation Army. He has used social media to disseminate disinformation, share graphic images of violence, and call for the destruction of public infrastructure.
IPOB called on its members and supporters to remain focused on the group’s primary goal—the peaceful restoration of Biafra’s sovereignty—while dismissing Ekpa’s actions and claims.
