The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has accused the Nigerian government of trying to connect Simon Ekpa to the group in a bid to disrupt the ongoing trial of their detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
IPOB said that the aim is to confuse the public and divert attention from the legal process involving Kanu, who is being held over treason charges.
The group’s reaction follows recent media reports claiming that a court in Finland approved Ekpa’s extradition to Nigeria.
IPOB described these reports as fake and said they were purposely circulated at a sensitive time.
According to the group, the news emerged just as a team of Igbo veterans met with officials in the United States to discuss alleged killings in southeastern Nigeria.
IPOB said the reports were used to distract from those discussions.
IPOB also said that Simon Ekpa is not part of their group and has never been.
They described him as someone running a separate group that has nothing to do with their activities.
The group alleged that Ekpa is being used by politicians to damage their name and make the public question their peaceful struggle for Biafra’s independence.
They claimed that Ekpa’s group is known for promoting violence, unlike IPOB, which they say is committed to a peaceful campaign for a referendum on Biafra.
IPOB accused the government of working with Ekpa to create a false image of the group and mislead the world.
The group warned the public and international media not to believe stories linking them to Ekpa.
They said these stories are part of a larger attempt to misrepresent their efforts and weaken support for their cause.
IPOB also insisted that Kanu’s continued detention is unlawful and part of a bigger plan to silence voices pushing for self-rule in the southeast.
They urged human rights bodies and world leaders to keep a close watch on Nigeria’s actions and to speak out against what they called a campaign of lies and abuse.
They maintained that their goal remains unchanged — to achieve Biafra through peaceful means — and said no amount of false news will stop them from moving forward.
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