Group Orders “Simon Ekpa Boys” Out Of Anambra

By Gideon Njoku

For Simon Ekpa, the Finland-based Biafra separatist fighter, November  has turned out a bad month. It is not just raining, it is pouring.

It began with his arrest by Finnish Police for, among other things, suspected terrorism related issues. The arrest which took many Nigerians unawares but which brought a lot of relief to them and the Nigerian Government, and especially the South-east Region, a number of people are saying, marks the demystification of the tough-talking Ekpa.

Ekpa entered into national consciousness in Nigeria when the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, was renditioned from Kenya  to Nigeria in 2021. He has been under the custody of the Federal Government and is facing prosecution.

On Kanu’s detention, Ekpa surfaced and introduced himself as his disciple. He, however, fell out with the IPOB over issues of conduct and policy and founded the Autopilots. His group, described as blood thirsty, is allegedly behind the unprecedented and unprovoked killings in the South-East. The Group’s conduct, on his orders, has also brought the economy of the South-East to its knees with the many orders of sit-at-home.

Ekpa introduces himself as the Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile.

However, since after his arrest, alongside four others and subsequent remand in custody, the situation seems to be getting worse.

First, he, allegedly, in Court, denied being the Prime Minister of the Biafran Republic Government in Exile, a title he was very proud of. In court, he allegedly, said he was just a member. Second, while the Nigerian Government which has claimed it played a diplomatic role in his arrest says it is watching the Court processes, the Defence Headquarters is pushing that he be extradited to Nigeria.

But the third problem is coming from the South-East Region, the Region which has borne the brunt of Ekpa’s activities.

On Saturday November 23, a new Group emerged and is calling  Ekpa bluff.

The new Group apparently based in Anambra, is calling itself, Anambra Vigilantes.

In a video making rounds on Social Media, members of the Group, in their scores, well-armed, and wearing face masks, have given Ekpa and his Group an immediate quit notice from Anambra State.

Their spokesperson, in the video that lasted some time told Ekpa that his cup was full, and his activities over. The Group holds him responsible for the sorry economic situation in the South-East, the killings and kidnappings and raxe of women and asked him to order his boys out of the forests. They assured him that he would pay for all the innocent blood shed in the Region.

They reminded him that a son of Anambra, the late Dim Ikemba Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu founded Biafra, but did not murder his people or inflict hardship on them in his pursuit of the survival of the then Biafra Republic.

Opinion is: it is either Ekpa’s Group listens to the warning, and puts down their arms, especially, as he is now under custody in Finland, or there will likely be an uncivil face-off between the two Groups, particularly in Anambra State.