The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has once again disowned Simon Ekpa following his conviction in Finland on terrorism-related charges.
According to Mediaplusng.com, the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland sentenced Ekpa to six years in prison for inciting terrorism and participating in the activities of a terrorist group. The court ruled that Ekpa used his wide social media influence to fuel unrest in Nigeria’s South-East region between August 2021 and November 2024.
In a statement by IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, the group stressed that Ekpa is not and has never been a member of IPOB. Powerful noted that Ekpa himself admitted in court that he is only a “content creator” and had long disowned IPOB even before his arrest and trial in Finland. IPOB, under oath, also testified in the Finnish court that Ekpa has never held any role in the group or its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
Mediaplusng.com reports that IPOB condemned the attempt to link Ekpa’s conviction to its activities, describing such claims as “deliberate misinformation.” Powerful added that Ekpa created splinter bodies such as the so-called Biafra Government in Exile, Biafra Liberation Army (BLA), and Biafra Defence Force (BDF)—all of which IPOB has disowned and rejected.
“Simon Ekpa’s conviction is his burden and his alone. IPOB will never carry it,” the group said. IPOB also urged that Ekpa’s case should not be used to influence the ongoing trial of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is facing charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Ekpa, a Finland-based agitator and self-proclaimed disciple of Kanu, fell out with IPOB after Kanu was extradited to Nigeria from Kenya in June 2021. Since then, IPOB has repeatedly distanced itself from his directives and activities.
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