Simon Ekpa not our member, he faces his own fate – IPOB

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has disowned Finland-based separatist agitator, Mazi Simon Ekpa, declaring that he has no ties with the organization.

The clarification follows Ekpa’s conviction in Finland on terrorism-related charges. IPOB maintained that linking him to the group amounts to deliberate misinformation.

In a release issued through its Media and Publicity Secretary, the group pointed out that the matter of Ekpa’s status had been addressed before a Finnish court.

“The record is clear. IPOB, under oath in a Finnish court, testified that Simon Ekpa has never held any position in IPOB or ESN. Ekpa himself, under oath, described himself merely as a content creator and admitted he disowned IPOB,” the statement read.

Reiterating its stance, IPOB said it operates strictly within the law as a registered nonviolent movement pursuing the right to self-determination. It accused Ekpa of running splinter groups and initiatives that have nothing to do with IPOB.

The group also reminded the global community that its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, remains on trial in Nigeria, urging that his case be handled with fairness and in line with international human rights standards.

It called on the European Union, Finland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the United Nations to avoid conflating Ekpa’s situation with Kanu’s trial.

“The Finnish court has already clarified that IPOB is not linked to Simon Ekpa, and we expect that this should not be misrepresented,” IPOB stated.