The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Friday, urged its members to remain calm and focus on the mandate of achieving a sovereign state of Biafra.
While condemning Ekpa’s activities, IPOB said that for every crime, there is a day of reckoning.
IPOB made the call following the arrest and detention of embattled self-acclaimed Prime Minister of Biafra, Simon Ekpa.
Emma Powerful, the spokesman of IPOB said Ekpa is not a registered member of the group.
In a statement he signed, Powerful said Ekpa recruited violent criminals to destabilize the South East region since 2021.
The statement reads: “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 and malicious misinformation from the Neo colonialist news agency that Simon Ekpa is an IPOB leader, Simon Ekpa was 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.”
Powerful maintained that its leader, Nnamdi Kanu established IPOB as a peaceful group to seek Biafra independence.
He added: “Mazi Nnamdi Kanu established IPOB as a peaceful movement to seek Biafra Independence via a supervised UN referendum. IPOB is a peaceful global movement that has never taken to violence or arms struggle in two decades of our self-determination struggle. Even though the various murderous government 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 course.
“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. He recruited violent criminals to destabilize the South East Region in 2021.
“He is a self acclaimed prime minister of a small criminally minded group called the Biafra Government in Exile (BGIE). The infamous BGIE led by Simon Ekpa created a violent group that called themselves the Biafra Liberation Army. They have perpetuated various violent acts against the civilian populace of the Eastern Region in the name of Biafra agitation.
“Simon Ekpa led group has no alliance, affiliation or relationship with IPOB family worldwide. He recruited his criminal gangs who have been terrorizing the Biafran territory since 2021.
“Simon Ekpa has been shielded from arrest and terrorism charges against innocent Biafran civilians by the Nigerian and the Finnish governments’ diplomatic maneuvering.
“However, for every crime, there is a day of reckoning. On the purported arrest of Simon Ekpa, all IPOB members, Biafrans and lovers of Biafra freedom should remain calm and focused on our core objective which is the restoration of the sovereign state of Biafra.”
