The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a statement distancing itself and its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, from the recent conviction...
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a statement distancing itself and its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, from the recent conviction of Simon Ekpa in Finland.
In a statement signed by spokesperson Emma Powerful, the group said Ekpa is not and has never been a member or leader of IPOB, stressing that this position has been established in both Nigerian courts and foreign jurisdictions. IPOB maintained that Ekpa operates his own organisation known as the Autopilot Government in Exile, and that his conviction is strictly personal.
“Any attempt to force a link between IPOB and his personal actions is dishonest and mischievous,” the statement read.
The group described itself as a lawful, global self-determination movement with a presence in over 100 countries and legal registration in more than 60. IPOB emphasised that no nation other than Nigeria regards it as a terrorist organisation, despite international law recognising the rights of indigenous peoples to pursue self-determination.
On the role of international media, IPOB cautioned against what it described as misleading reporting, urging journalists and outlets worldwide to verify facts and resist narratives that could “misrepresent a legitimate struggle.”
The statement further recalled that a Canadian court had previously ruled Nigeria’s political parties as terror organisations but noted that such rulings did not receive the same media attention. IPOB argued that this selective reporting demonstrates bias against its movement.
The group also warned that the timing of recent reports linking it to Ekpa appears calculated to influence the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, scheduled to continue before Justice James Omotosho on October 10.
“This is not journalism. It is psychological warfare,” the group stated, reaffirming its commitment to continue defending its reputation with “truth and evidence.”
Emma Powerful concluded by calling on global media organisations to uphold professional standards and avoid being used as instruments of disinformation.
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