Simon Ekpa
By Akeem Atoyebi
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), under the leadership of Nnamdi Kanu, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government of pushing what it labels describes “relentless and insidious media manipulation” aimed at undermining its push for self-determination and discrediting its leadership.
In a strongly worded statement released on Wednesday by IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, the group urged “the public, the global media, and the Biafran populace to reject the deliberate falsehoods peddled to undermine our legitimate struggle for self-determination and to suppress the truth about our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
The group asserted that the Nigerian government is orchestrating “fake news and manipulative propaganda” to influence public opinion and interfere with Kanu’s legal proceedings.
A particular example referenced in the statement is the claim that a Finnish court approved the extradition of Simon Ekpa to Nigeria — a development IPOB labelled “a glaring example of this orchestrated scam.”
“This fabricated narrative, suspiciously timed to coincide with the visit of Igbo veterans to Capitol Hill to brief the U.S. State Department on the ongoing massacre of defenceless indigenous populations in Nigeria, is no coincidence,” the group said.
“It is a calculated attempt to divert attention from the Nigerian government’s human rights abuses and the just cause of Biafran self-determination.”
IPOB further clarified its stand on Simon Ekpa, asserting: “Let us be crystal clear: Simon Ekpa is not, and has never been, a member of IPOB.”
The group said Ekpa has “publicly declared on multiple occasions that he operates independently, leading a criminal gang known as the ‘Biafra Liberation Army (BLA).’”
Labelling Ekpa’s organisation as “a proxy tool manipulated by Nigerian politicians, particularly within the APC,” IPOB said the group is being used “to sow chaos, perpetrate violence, and sabotage the credible efforts of IPOB.”
“His self-confessed role as a ‘content creator,’ as admitted in a Finnish court, further exposes his lack of legitimacy and his true motive as a paid agent provocateur,” the statement continued.
IPOB also warned the media against amplifying what it calls false narratives, saying, “Any person, group, or entity promoting or peddling news about Simon Ekpa as a representative of IPOB is complicit in the APC government’s agenda to distort the truth and perpetuate injustice.”
