Ekpa To Face Finnish Court As Group Declares Two-Day Lockdown In South-East
The Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE) has declared a two-day lockdown across the South-East to coincide with the court appearance of its Prime Minister, Simon Ekpa, in Finland on Wednesday, 29 May.
The group announced that the lockdown, scheduled for 29 and 30 May, is meant to honour Ekpa’s legal battle and reaffirm support for the Biafra cause.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by BRGIE’s self-styled Minister of Information, Akparawa Sunny, Biafrans at home and in the diaspora are expected to observe the dates as significant.
Ekpa has been in detention in Finland since November 2024, following his arrest along with four others on suspicion of terrorism-related offences, including inciting violence and funding terrorist activities.
Finnish police alleged that Ekpa used social media platforms to promote violent activities in the South-East, targeting civilians and government institutions.
“These two days are significant in the lives of all Biafrans,” BRGIE said. “Our Prime Minister, Simon Ekpa, has sacrificed his freedom for Biafra. We must honour him.”
The group also condemned the sealing of shops at Onitsha Head Bridge Market by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), describing the action as “economic persecution of Biafran traders.”
It accused the agency of levying traders with unjust fines ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦700,000, and demanded an immediate reversal.
“BRGIE warns NAFDAC to unseal every Biafran shop it shut down. The blanket penalty imposed is exploitative and lacks legal basis,” it said.
Meanwhile, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has criticised the decision of the Finnish authorities to schedule Ekpa’s trial for 30 May, which it views as an attempt to undermine the memory of those who died for Biafra.
Reacting through its spokesman, Emma Powerful, IPOB said the British government and its “foreign conspirators” cannot criminalise the Biafra agitation by targeting Ekpa.
He maintained that the Biafran self-determination movement remains legitimate and that the trial date was “a mockery of the historical pain of Biafrans” and a distraction from Nnamdi Kanu’s ongoing prosecution.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
