Nnamdi Kanu, the imprisoned leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has openly distanced himself from Simon Ekpa, a contentious and self-declared disciple of Kanu.
Kanu has made it obvious that he does not view Ekpa as a supporter of IPOB or his self-determination tenets.
According to Prime9jaOnline, Ekpa, a well-known supporter of the IPOB leader, is stationed in Finland and has been charged with organising murders and other crimes carried out by people who are thought to be members of the IPOB.
He unexpectedly found himself in the public eye after creating a petition on change.org in 2020 with the headline "UK, EU, UN, World Powers Must Start the Process to Dissolve Nigeria 1914 Amalgamation." Over 84,902 people, according to Prime9jaOnline, signed the petition.
After Ekpa ordered people to stay at home for five days last week, multiple persons in the South-East—among them a pregnant market vendor in Enugu State—were slain.
Speaking through his special lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the leader of IPOB claimed that Ekpa had acted independently of Kanu's orders.
The leader of IPOB also condemned the most recent killings in the South-East and urged the federal government to launch an investigation and prosecute those involved.
“Simon Ekpa is not a member of IPOB. He should be investigated for the killings in the South-East and cannot be fighting for the self-determination of the Biafra people.
“The fact is clear. Simon Ekpa is being sponsored by persons we cannot mention this time to destroy the South-East. He cannot say he is fighting for Biafra’s emancipation and still instigating criminal elements to go after the people he claims he is fighting to protect.
“Members of the Eastern Security Network are somewhere killing our innocent people. This should tell you that Ekpa is acting out scripts by people who want to devour our lands. Ekpa is not my follower.
“He cannot say he is my follower or disciple. I condemn Simon Ekpa’s activities.
“I never sanctioned any sit-at-home declared by Ekpa. IPOB never authorised or sanctioned it. Go about your normal business and disregard the threats by Ekpa. He is one of the people who do not want peace in our region. Ekpa is not working for me or IPOB.”