IPOB declares supporters of Ekpa’s faction as criminals

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has disassociated itself from the recent proclamation of the “United States of Biafra,” made at a convention in Lahti, Finland, organized by Simon Ekpa‘s supporters.

In a statement on Saturday, IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful dismissed any affiliation with the event, labeling those backing Ekpa as “criminals engaging in illegal activities to harm their homeland.”

The declaration occurred during a convention led by Dr. Ngozi Orabueze, who identified herself as the Chief of Staff of the United States of Biafra and the organizer of the “Biafra Declaration of the Restoration of the United States of Biafra Convention 2024.”

Videos from the event, widely shared on social media, showed participants displaying Biafran flags and chanting slogans.

Simon Ekpa

IPOB reiterated its detachment from the declaration and stated that it does not recognize the activities of Ekpa’s faction.

Powerful stated, “IPOB has no involvement in any conference. Those people (Ekpa’s faction) are criminals supporting illegal activities to destroy our land. There is no such thing as a declaration of Biafra from our side.

“Any claim that IPOB is hosting a conference is false. When IPOB decides to make such an important announcement, the whole world will know. Those making such statements are fake.”

The spokesperson for the Movement for Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, Sunday Edeson, in his reaction to the report, stated that if IPOB succeeded in the realisation of Biafra through its declaration, MASSOB would accept and rejoice with them.

He added that the British government would never support the freedom of Biafra.

Edeson said, “Everyone has the right to declare. They declared their freedom in Finland, but we know that we’re still under Nigerian leadership. We support them.

“Declaring independence in Finland doesn’t mean we’re free from the Nigerian government. We still use Nigerian currency, and security agencies are still from Nigeria. So, we’re still under Nigeria’s control.”