Loyalist vows to continue Sit-at-Home despite Ekpa’s arrest in Finland

A prominent loyalist of Simon Ekpa, a self-proclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has reaffirmed that the controversial weekly sit-at-home order in Nigeria’s South-East region will persist, regardless of Ekpa’s recent arrest in Finland.

Ngozi Orabueze, who identifies herself as the Chief of Staff to Ekpa and the Acting Prime Minister of the Biafran Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE), made this declaration in a series of statements shared on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday night.

Orabueze emphasized that the sit-at-home directive remains intact and must be observed by residents of the South-East region, regardless of Ekpa’s current predicament.

“The sit-at-home order still stands with or without Simon Ekpa,” she stated, reiterating that the movement’s goal is to show solidarity with IPOB’s detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in Nigerian custody since 2021.

In a follow-up post, Orabueze thanked the Finnish authorities for what she termed their protection of Ekpa against what she described as oppression from “the terrorist Nigeria state,” referencing Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

READ ALSO: IPOB urges Southeast residents to ignore Sit-at-Home order

She further announced that Biafran supporters worldwide are set to converge in Finland on December 2 for the “Biafra Independence Re-Declaration.” She insisted that the sit-at-home order, purportedly embraced by South-East residents voluntarily, remains a crucial component of the movement’s strategy.

“As Biafrans all over the world converge in Finland next week, the Monday sit-at-home in all Biafraland must be maintained,” Orabueze declared.

Orabueze also expressed gratitude to the Biafran Defence Forces, praising their efforts to counter what she alleged were acts of terrorism carried out by individuals posing as Nigerian security operatives.

“The Biafran Defence Forces deserve commendation for eliminating terrorists wearing Nigeria army and police uniforms in our land,” she wrote, though no evidence was provided to substantiate these claims.

The sit-at-home order, initiated by Ekpa and his loyalists, has been a source of significant tension in the South-East, disrupting daily life and economic activities in the region. Critics argue that the measure has inflicted more harm on residents than it has achieved politically.

Ekpa’s arrest in Finland, where he resides, came amid allegations of inciting violence and disruption in Nigeria through his calls for separatist activities. However, Finnish authorities have yet to announce any formal charges against him.

As the December 2 event approaches, concerns remain over the potential escalation of tensions in the South-East and the impact of the sit-at-home directive on the region’s stability.