The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has distanced itself from Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the Biafra Government in Exile (BRGIE), who was arrested by Finnish authorities on November 21 for terror-related activities. Finnish police accused Ekpa of inciting crimes with terrorist intent, while four others were arrested for financing terrorism.
A statement from Crime Commissioner Otto Hiltunen of Finland’s Central Criminal Police revealed that Ekpa, a Finnish citizen of Nigerian descent, allegedly promoted violent acts through his social media channels, leading to violence in southeastern Nigeria. Authorities emphasized international cooperation in the investigation.
In response, IPOB spokesman Emma Powerful released a statement disavowing Ekpa, clarifying that he was never a member of IPOB. He accused Ekpa of recruiting violent criminals to destabilize the South East in 2021 and criticized his leadership of the BGIE, a group linked to the Biafra Liberation Army.
IPOB strongly reiterated its commitment to a peaceful movement for Biafra’s independence, emphasizing that Ekpa’s violent actions are incompatible with their goals. The organization also condemned media reports that falsely labeled Ekpa as an IPOB leader, highlighting that IPOB has remained non-violent for over two decades.
The statement further called for a distinction between IPOB and Ekpa’s criminal activities, urging international authorities and media to avoid associating him with the peaceful Biafra self-determination movement. Despite diplomatic efforts to shield Ekpa, IPOB warned that justice would eventually prevail. The organization urged its members and supporters to stay focused on their peaceful objective—the restoration of Biafra’s sovereignty.
