Enyinnaya Abaribe, the senator representing Abia south, has claimed that Simon Ekpa, self-proclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), labelled his agitations as content creation.
Ekpa was arrested last week in Finland and subsequently sent to prison by the district court of Päijät-Häme for “spreading terrorist propaganda on social media”…Don’t Miss Out! CLICK HERE TO KEEP READING> >>
Abaribe said Ekpa’s arrest was a welcome development, adding that the secessionist admitted that his actions were staged.
The senator made the claim on Monday while speaking on ‘Politics Today’, a Channels Television programme.
“What it does is that it will tell those people at home who are purveyors of violence, who have been instigated by Simon Ekpa, to now know that he actually said he is just a content creator,” he said.
TheCable could not immediately verify the claim.
Abaribe added that Ekpa’s actions were antithetical to what the Igbos stand for.
He said terrorists have leveraged the agitation to perpetrate violent crimes in the south-east.
“And what has happened is that a legitimate quest by the IPOB seeking a non-violent referendum was turned by all these kidnappers because they have found a key because, to average Igbo people, when you say Biafra, you must be doing the right thing,” the senator said.
“Whatever they say they are doing in the south-east is not supported by anybody in the south-east. All you have is a band of criminals.
“Also, our security agencies find it difficult to discern between a criminal and somebody who is saying he is doing agitation. So, every little thing that happens, they would say it is IPOB.”
According to the lawmaker, violence in the region can only be brought to an end when Nnamdi Kanu, the detained IPOB leader, is released.
Abaribe said many of those perpetrating violence with Kanu’s name would not have any reason to continue when he is released.
Nigerian authorities have been demanding the extradition of Ekpa, a dual citizen of Finland and Nigeria, for prosecution.
