The arrest of Simon Ekpa, a Finland-based separatist leader, by Finnish authorities has reignited debates over the divisions within the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the violent turn in the agitation for Biafran independence......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
IPOB, through its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, has strongly disassociated itself from Ekpa, branding him a “destructive agent” working to tarnish the group’s peaceful advocacy.
Ekpa was arrested on Thursday in Lahti, Finland, and subsequently detained on charges of spreading terrorist propaganda on social media in 2021.
Finnish authorities also apprehended four other individuals over alleged terrorist offences, raising questions about the international reach of separatist activities linked to Nigeria’s southeast region.
The ideological rift between IPOB, founded by Nnamdi Kanu, and Simon Ekpa’s faction began in 2021 after Kanu’s arrest by Nigerian authorities.
Ekpa was briefly appointed to head IPOB’s Radio Biafra but was removed for what the group described as his refusal to adhere to established rules.
Ekpa subsequently formed his own faction, declaring himself the prime minister of the so-called Biafra government in exile (BGIE) and launching controversial sit-at-home orders in Nigeria’s southeast.
These directives, often enforced violently, have been linked to disruptions in the region, including attacks on security personnel and the destruction of public infrastructure.
IPOB has consistently distanced itself from these activities, maintaining that its advocacy for Biafran independence is peaceful and rooted in a proposed United Nations-supervised referendum.
“Simon Ekpa was never and is not an IPOB member, let alone being a leader in IPOB,” Powerful stated on Friday.
He accused Ekpa of recruiting criminal gangs to destabilize the southeast and claimed that the Nigerian government had shielded him to create a false narrative linking IPOB to violence.
Ekpa’s activities in Finland have drawn international scrutiny, with Finnish authorities investigating his alleged role in inciting violence from abroad.
This highlights the challenges faced by Nigeria in managing the diaspora elements of separatist movements, which often operate with relative impunity outside the country.
The arrest also comes at a critical time for IPOB, which has faced declining public support due to the violence attributed to factions like Ekpa’s.
The group has reiterated its commitment to peaceful advocacy, urging its members to focus on their core objective of achieving a sovereign Biafran state through dialogue and international engagement.
The divisions within IPOB have exposed the fragility of its leadership structure following Kanu’s detention.
Analysts argue that the group’s inability to present a unified front has weakened its cause and given room for factions like Ekpa’s to exploit the situation for personal or political gain.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has used the violence in the southeast as justification for its continued military operations in the region.
Human rights groups, however, have raised concerns about alleged abuses by security forces during these operations, calling for an independent investigation into the actions of all parties involved.
The arrest of Simon Ekpa could mark a turning point in the southeast crisis.
While IPOB insists that it has no ties to Ekpa’s activities, the continued association of his faction with the Biafran struggle risks further alienating the group from local and international sympathizers.
As the situation unfolds, the focus remains on whether IPOB can reclaim its image as a peaceful movement and whether Nigeria can find a political solution to the longstanding grievances fueling separatist agitations.