Mixed reactions yesterday trailed the arrest of the factional leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Simon Ekpa by the Finnish government.
A section of residents of Abakaliki the Ebonyi State, Enugu, Umuahia in Abia State and Owerri, the capital of Imo State applauded the arrest of Ekpa, others said that it portends danger for the people of the SouthEast region.
The police in Finland arrested the leader of the secessionist the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) Simon Ekpa following his repeated threats to sabotage the general elections in Nigeria scheduled for Saturday, February 25 and March 11, 2023.
The Finland-based Ekpa has threatened to severely punish any person in the South-Eastern part of the Nigeria that tries to participate or vote in the 2023 General Elections, a situation that prompted the Nigerian Government to raise the issue with Finnish government recently when the Nigerian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada met the Ambassador of Finland to Nigeria.
The separatist leader has been suspected to be behind the ceaseless killing by ‘Unknown Gunmen’, a dangerous armed militia responsible for the deaths of several people and even public officials in the South-East.
Ekpa, a self-acclaimed disciple of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), rose to prominence in July 2021 after he was announced as the lead broadcaster of Radio Biafra.
Ekpa was selected to lead the separatist group to replace Kanu following the re-arrest of the IPOB leader by the federal government. After some weeks, IPOB announced Ekpa’s disengagement, as he was accused of refusal to sign the rules of engagement of Radio Biafra.
Sources at the Finnish embassy in Nigeria confirmed Ekpa’s arrest to journalists.
Reacting to the development, the chairman of Umuahia North Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Onyebuchi Ibezim, said he was overwhelmed with joy.
He said he had been afraid ever since Ekpa issued the order, describing the arrest as a cheering news for himself, his domain, and the entire South East.
Similarly, his counterpart of Oriendu Autonomous Community, Eze Pastor Phillip Ajomiwe thanked God for answering the prayers of the people for an end to Ekpa’s era of inducement.
“Ekpa has caused a lot of problems for Ndigbo anywhere in the country and Igboland in particular. I hope the problems have ended with his arrest.”
In his remarks, Comrade Anthony Uzondu (Bravo) described it as good riddance to bad rubbish, saying Ekpa thought he could continue to take the people for a ride without end.
Jubilation erupted in different parts of Enugu yesterday following the arrest of Ekpa.
Some residents of Enugu, who spoke to journalists, said his arrest will surely restore the economy of Enugu to where it used to be.
JUST-IN: Finnish Police Arrest Self-acclaimed IPOB Leader, Simon Ekpa, Ahead Nigeria’s Polls
They called on the Finnish government to prosecute him and make sure that he faced the full wrath of the law. They accused Ekpa of inciting people to killing innocent people like fouls and expressed hope that the ugly development in the Southeast will end.
In Imo State, the news of the arrest of Ekpa by the Finnish government, has brought calm to the state capital while businesses were open.
Markets were a beehive of activities as customers trooped in their numbers to buy goods especially consumables especially Relief, Ekeukwu Owerri, and World bank markets.
Crowds of people were seen in banks as had been the practice for weeks and ATM centres where people were trying to get cash.
While some people announced the arrest via their social media handles, many kept mute and didn’t comment as they normally did.
There was however reduced traffic as the roads were devoid of heavy traffic.
A resident who pleaded anonymity said they were un-bothered about the arrest but he said he won’t stay up late night to avoid any sudden uprising.
Despite the directive by Ekpa urging the people of the South East zone to observe a sit-at-home and shun participation in this Saturday’s Presidential/National Assembly elections, residents of Anambra State are in high spirits preparing for the polls.
Virtually every activity by everyone in the state, including in the cities and rural areas since the past few days, are toward getting ready to participate effectively in the polls.
Most people who are anticipating that all markets will be closed, including street shops as well as supermarkets, have been engaged in frantic arrangements to purchase food items and other necessary items they may need in their families on the day of the polls.
Those who responded to the factional IPOB leader’s sit-at-home order dismissed him as an enemy of Ndigbo, and as one who is on his own.
Vice-president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and an indigene of Nanka community , Anambra state dismissed Simon Ekpa’s influence.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo has taken a decision on the 2023 general election and has directed all Igbo registered voters both at home and in other parts of the country to go out and vote during the elections.So, Simon Ekpa is ow his own”, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo leader emphasised.
Similarly, president-general elect, Atani community in Ogbaru local government, Hon. Amobi Nzeli, dismissed Simon Ekpa ‘s sit-at-home order as one coming from nobody in Igbo land.
He said that everyone in his community and in the entire Ogbaru local government area is looking forward to going to cast his or her vote in this Saturday presidential/National Assembly elections.
“People are stocking food items and making other arrangements to make sure that their family members will not lack anything on the day of the election because markets and street shops will not open as everyone will go to cast his or her vote.
“Nobody is listening to Simon Ekpa here, our people are going to participate in the voting”, Nzeli stated.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP, the state secretary of one of the leading opposition parties, who pleaded for anonymity, said if supporters of the other parties would not come out, he was sure theirs would.
According to him, he will not leave the premises until the last vehicle”which will probably be for Umuahia South local government area has left. For us the election will be held.”
In his response, Mr Angus Uduma, a 35-year old businessman said the people have no reason to shun the election “especially in the face of a likely victory for one of their own”.
Similarly, Chinenye Iheakandu, a beautician and staunch member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, noted that “Ekpa or no Ekpa, the people will come out to vote even in the face of cash- runch.”
According to Comrade Basil Ejimkeonye, Ekpa is only reading a script written by haters of Ndigbo who want to use the period to undermine them into political irrelevance and obscurity.
The youth, who explained that he is not a supporter of any of the parties, appealed to the people to ignore the order and come out and vote for candidates of their choice.
Madam Lucy Nwafor, who said she lost one of her sons in a crossfire between the police and unknown gunmen, said she will move with caution during the poll.
While some of the residents of Abaakaliki who spoke to LEADERSHIP Friday described the arrest as the step in the right direction others expressed the fear that his group might continue their attack on innocent people of the zone.
A businessman at the Ebonyi State International Market, Mr. Ifeanyi Nnaji expressed the fear that with his arrest, the auto pilot group loyal to him accused of being responsible for the attacks on the people would continue the attack with the aim of securing his release through such attacks.
“Let me believe that the arrest won’t cause more harm than good to the people of the South East. The Niger Delta agitators negotiated with the federal government when they continued attacking oil facilities unabated.”
“The Boko Haram terrorists gave conditions to the federal government when some of their commanders were arrested and I don’t want to envisage that the group loyal to Mr. Ekpa won’t continue their terror attack on the people to use it to negotiate for his release.
“The security agencies must be up and doing especially now that Simon has been arrested. This is the time to swoop on them, fish them out and for the Nigerian government to press charges against all his actions and inciting statements whuchù led to the death of many persons.
Last night, the Finnish police released Ekpa, hours after he was arrested and grilled.
The Finnish Central Criminal Police confirmed Ekpa’s release on Thursday, according to HS reports.
Ekpa’s Background
While Nigerians are shocked over the quick release of Simon Ekpa shortly after his arrest by the Finnish authorities, a source in Finland who spoke to LEADERSHIP Friday on telephone revealed that Ekpa may have been released so fast because he is a Finnish citizen by naturalisation and is also married to a Finnish woman with whom he has raised three children.
The source also revealed that Ekpa has a Ph.D in Law and speaks Finnish language fluently, adding that Ekpa also served in the Finnish military and is thus politically connected.
According to the source, presently he is an elected government official in Finland, holding the position of an equivalent to vice chairman of a local government area in Nigeria.
“He is a local Lahti city councillor, representing the National Coalition Party in Finland,” said the source.
The source warned that the Finnish authorities may not do much in helping Nigeria to rein him in, because as far as the Finnish government is concerned, Ekpa is yet to violate the country’s law and is thus seen as a law-abiding citizen.
The source, who is a Nigerian living in Finland, said the only way that Finland will take the matter seriously is for the Nigerian government to send the Finnish Ambassador in Nigeria back to her country until Ekpa is arrested and prosecuted in Finland or sent back to Nigeria to face charges of terrorism and instigating the killings of innocent Nigerians in the name of the struggle for the actualisation of Biafra.
