The Biafra Government In Exile (BRGIE) has reportedly appointed Ngozi Orabueze as interim prime minister.
She will temporarily take over the duties of the former self-styled Biafra Government leader, Simon Ekpa who is currently remanded in prison.
Orabueze, who presently serves as the Chief of Staff for the alleged Biafra Government, will hold forth for Ekpa during this period.
Orabueze was the chairperson of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Atlanta.
Simon Ekpa was arrested alongside four others by Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) over terrorism related activities.
The Finnish police said they suspect that Mr Ekpa “has contributed to violence and crimes against civilians in South-eastern Nigeria.”
Nigeria’s defence chief, General Christopher Musa while reacting to the arrest, said the country will proceed to push for Ekpa’s extradition to Nigeria.
However, reports emerged over the weekend that the extradition may not push through because according to Finnish law, the country will not extradite its nationals outside the European Union or Nordic countries.
Simon Ekpa’s Sins
Ekpa’s notoriety began in 2021, when he became a prominent figure within the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The 39-year-old separatist leader later established the Biafra Republic Government in-Exile (BRGIE) to lead the independence cause from abroad.
Through his social media platforms, Ekpa issued repeated sit-at-home orders across Nigeria’s southeastern region.
These orders not only disrupted the economy but also led to violent confrontations, including attacks on security personnel.
According to a report from Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), his sins include:
– Murder of Policemen: Ekpa claimed responsibility for the killing of four police officers in Owerri, Imo State, in July 2023.
– Killing of Soldiers: Gunmen, suspected to be Biafran agitators, killed multiple soldiers in different attacks, including two soldiers at a military checkpoint in Abia State in November 2023.
– Injuring and Killing Civilians: Biafran agitators, allegedly under Ekpa’s influence, killed and injured civilians, including during a violent attack in Imo State that resulted in the death of a PoS merchant and others.
– Brutalizing Civilians: Biafran agitators have reportedly assaulted civilians who disobeyed sit-at-home orders, such as a tricycle rider in July 2023.
– Crowdfunding for Militia Operations: Ekpa facilitated fundraising to finance militia operations, including purchasing weapons. In June, over $100,000 was raised to support the Biafra Liberation Fighters, who have been responsible for widespread violence in the region.
– Enforcing Sit-at-home Orders: Ekpa and his followers have enforced sit-at-home orders that disrupted daily life, causing economic harm and preventing access to essential services like healthcare.
Following the killings in South-East by unknown gunmen and inciting statements by Ekpa, in 2023, Kanu had to write a letter from detention, telling Ekpa to stop issuing sit-at-home orders in the region, Vanguard reports.
Ekpa was briefly arrested in February by Finnish authorities but was quickly released.
The Autopilot leader’s actions have been widely condemned by various stakeholders, including Nigerian government, IPOB, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and other Igbo leaders who view him as a dangerous radical whose actions have brought turmoil to an unstable region.
