The outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has disowned an agitator Simon Ekpa, highlighting that he was neither a member nor a leader of the separatist organisation.
In a statement released on Friday by the spokesperson of IPOB, Emma Powerful, the group reaffirmed its non-violent stance, condemning Ekpa for allegedly forming a violent group, the Biafra Liberation Army, which they stressed undermined IPOB’s principles.
The clarification followed the arrest of Ekpa, a self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the Biafra Government in Exile (BRGIE), by Finnish authorities on Thursday.
Ekpa was detained on charges of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent. Four other individuals believed to be financiers of terrorist activities were also arrested in connection.
Reacting to the development, IPOB denied any connection with Ekpa, emphasising that its movement remains peaceful and focused on achieving Biafra’s independence through a United Nations-supervised referendum.
“The attention of the global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been drawn to the news of the arrest and subsequent claim by the infamous Prime Minister of Biafra Government in Exile (BRGIE) Simon Ekpa of being an IPOB member.
“To set the records and facts straight, Simon Ekpa has never been a member of the global IPOB family movement.
“Contrary to the deliberate misinformation from the BBC, that Simon Ekpa is an IPOB leader.
“Simon Ekpa has 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.”
According to them, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu established IPOB as a peaceful movement to seek Biafra Independence via a supervised UN referendum while indicating that IPOB is a peaceful global movement that has never taken to violence or arms struggle in two decades of their self-determination struggle.
“Even though the various regimes in Nigeria have provoked us, we have remained resolutely peaceful.
“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,” Powerful stated.
