By Madu Onuorah
Yesterday’s conviction and six-year sentence on Finnish Lahti municipal based self-proclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Simon Njoku Ekpa, by Päijät-Häme District Court on terrorism-related charges has thrown confusion in the ranks of his comrades in arms in South East region. The court also convicted him of aggravated tax fraud.
In its verdict, the court said that Ekpa, who is also the self-declared prime minister of the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile (BRGIE), used his significant social media following to stoke tensions in the region between August 2021 and November 2024, where he is an influential member of a Biafran separatist movement, which established armed groups aimed at bringing about Biafran independence by force.
The court also noted that Ekpa had supplied these groups with weapons, explosives, and ammunition through his network of contacts in the region, and also found to have encouraged his followers on social media platform X to commit crimes in Nigeria.
Stating that Ekpa, a long-term resident of Lahti and one-time local councillor, committed these crimes from the Finnish city, the verdict said the Finnish court had jurisdiction in the case.
Ekpa had denied all the charges in court.
Born in Nigeria, the Ebonyi State-born separatist leader moved to Finland in 2007 as an athlete. Originally, a member of IPOB, Ekpa was announced as director of group’s pirate radio channel, Radio Biafra, after Kanu’s arrest and detention in 2021. But shortly after, IPOB announced his disengagement over alleged refusal to sign rules of engagement guiding the radio station operations, which usually spews inciting messages and propaganda against the Nigerian government and “perceived enemies.”
Irked by his removal, Ekpa floated his inciting online station – Biafra Freedom Awareness Channel, and formed Autopilot, a faction of IPOB. He later declared himself the prime minister of BRGIE and established the Biafra Liberation Army (BLA), a group of gunmen linked to the attacks and killings in the South East.
Taking the advantage of absence of Kanu to present himself as the much more radical leader, he spurned his (Kanu’s) appointed leadership, recruiting many IPOB and Igbo youths as they unleashed acts of terrorism, kidnapping, killings, raping, and trafficking in human parts.
Following directive by Kanu to stop all pronouncements and enforcement of sit-at-home in the region, Ekpa said he was going solo and will no more be “taking orders anymore from DSS dungeon” where Kanu is being held.
In another tweet, Ekpa accused Kanu of working with security agencies and government to undermine his powers as the ‘Prime Minister’ of the Biafra Republic Government In Exile, threatening to dethrone him as Supreme Leader of IPOB. He added: “Even if Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is released today, we will no longer take orders from him. He is out of his mind and as the Prime Minister, I am now in charge…I repeat, I am now in charge.”
His group took the upper hand, violently enforced sit-at-home orders which have caused widespread disruption, including entrenching a climate of violence and fear with civilians and businesses caught in the crossfire. It is not just that this was enforced, but he justified killings and kidnappings and during lockdowns, residents who ventured outside their homes faced the certainty of violent attacks, leaving their sick without medical care, children out of school and forcing them to shut their businesses. He effectively pushed the region into clear economic decline as his gunmen ruined businesses and shrunk the economic space, bringing suffering to traders, shop owners, artisans, craftsmen, industrialists, wholesalers and retailers of a motley of merchandise.
From the comfort of his lavishly furnished home in Lahti, he issued orders and threats against Nigerian military and security forces and personnel, and even civilians. And he repeatedly claimed responsibility for various attacks and killings in the region.
Human rights lawyer and lead counsel to IPOB, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, had lamented that Ekpa’s activities gave credence to the Court of Appeal’s judgment affirming the group as a terrorist organization.
This was instructive as at a point in IPOB history, especially in 2015 and 2016, almost every youth or average Igbo man or woman especially within the South East region believed in IPOB struggle for Biafra’s independence, but the violence and sit-at-home and living in fear has almost eroded the trust and confidence in the movement.
While Kanu was in detention, Ekpa changed the entire orientation of IPOB and this affected the perception of Igbos for the group as he caused more harm than good. Because of the fear-mongering and violent tactics coupled with the atrocities committed by his disciples, if a referendum is conducted today, majority of Igbos would reject independence for a state of Biafra.
On November 21, 2024, the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested Ekpa. And yesterday, he was jailed for six years.
The verdict effectively puts him out of circulation and denies his “troops” the oxygen they desperately need. But it leaves a vacuum in the operational leadership of the various armed groups led by his disciples scattered in the region especially in Imo, Anambra and Enugu States. It also offers the best chance for peace as there is no nominal leadership for the gunmen.
Most importantly, this presents the federal, state and local governments another opportunity to work together and clear the South East of hoodlums and criminals including their cache of arms and ammunition. And if this is done fast enough, this would decapitate the commanders of various camps and their gunmen.
Moreover, this would provide a new impetus to resolve Kanu’s detention and trial and insecurity in the South East towards the restoration of peace and security in the region. With Ekpa incarcerated and Kanu in detention, the region is closer to peace more than ever if the right political solution is found.
Onuorah is Editor-in-Chief of Global Upfront Newspapers (GUN) and member of Daily Trust Editorial Board”
