Simon Ekpa
OpenLife Nigeria reports that Simon Ekpa, a factional leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, may be arrested in the next 24 hours according to information available to OpenLife .
Ekpa, a Nigerian-Finnish lawyer, political activist and former athlete, chiefly known for spreading fake news and allegedly inciting violence in southeastern Nigeria, recently declared a sit-at-home from 23 to 28 February apparently to stop the conduct of the 2023 general elections in the region.
On the strength of that, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tuesday, summoned the Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Leena Pylvanainen, over threats by Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa, to stop the 2023 general election in Nigeria’s south-east.
The Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs viewed Ekpa’s instruction to his loyalists as an attempt to disrupt the presidential election is slated to be held on 25 February.
Ekpa has repeatedly declared sit-at-home orders across the South-east, insisting that there would be no election in the region in 2023, a development that would help his faction of the IPOB to achieve the sovereign state of Biafra for Igbo-speaking people in South-east and South-south Nigeria.
During Geoffrey Onyeama’s meeting with the Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs Pylvanainen, the Minister expressed displeasure over the recent sit-at-home orders given by Mr Ekpa to his teeming followers, who he said, consequently embarked on killings, maiming, burning and other destructive activities.
Mr Onyeama, represented by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada, said Mr Ekpa’s action was fast becoming a threat to the forthcoming election, and that the Nigerian government would not take it “lightly” with him and the Finland government if nothing “drastic” was not done about his threats.
“We thought it was important for us to have this chat with you to let you know that, of course, he’s living in the comfort of his home there in Finland and we know that we have been in touch with your good self,” Mr Onyeama stated.
“We’ve had some time to ensure that we arrest this situation but it appears the situation is getting out of hand. And we’re saying enough is enough. We should let you know, in very strong terms that it’s high time you really meant and backed Nigeria with the quest that something be done immediately because he threatens the forthcoming election,” he added.
Reaction on Wednesday, the Finnish government, through a letter cited by OpenLife instructed Ekpa to reverse his order or get arrested.
“You are hereby directed to call off your planned sit-at-home by pronouncing through the same media outlets you used for your illegal pronouncement, a reversal of your sit-out-home order.
Mr. Simon, you have 48 hours to reverse or you will be arrested and charged with international terrorism.”
The letter is reproduced bellow
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