BIAFRA WAR? Tension Hits Aso- Rock As Simon Ekpa Declares One- Month Lockdown Of Nigerian Institutions In Southeast, List Demands
In a bold declaration, Simon Ekpa, who has positioned himself as the Prime Minister of the self- proclaimed Biafra Republic, has announced a planned one- month lockdown across the Biafra territories. This initiative aims to target various Nigerian institutions located within these regions, including military barracks, police stations, state government offices, and local administrative buildings. Ekpa has also indicated that police checkpoints within Biafra will be dismantled during this period.
While residents will be permitted to continue their daily activities, they are cautioned to avoid any government- owned facilities. Ekpa emphasized that the Biafra Defence Forces will patrol the streets to confront what he describes as terrorists affiliated with the Nigerian government, who he claims are embedded within the police and military forces in the Biafra region.
In his announcement, Ekpa articulated that the lockdown is not merely an act of civil disobedience but a necessary measure to address what he perceives as a terrorist threat. He urged civilians to remain vigilant and conduct their daily business while steering clear of government properties.
Following the lockdown, Ekpa plans to present a list of demands to the Nigerian government. This list is expected to include the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), along with other individuals detained for their involvement in the Biafra movement. Additionally, he is calling for the withdrawal of all Nigerian military personnel from the Biafra territories and the government’ s acknowledgment of a self- referendum for Biafra, which he claims garnered over 50 million votes in favor of independence.
The situation has drawn attention from Nigerian military officials, particularly General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff. During a recent broadcast, Musa accused the Finnish government of providing refuge to Ekpa, who leads the banned IPOB group. He expressed concern over Ekpa’ s activities and the ongoing unrest in the South- East region of Nigeria, calling for urgent action to apprehend and prosecute him.
Musa articulated his frustrations, stating that Ekpa’ s statements have incited violence, leading to loss of life, while the Finnish authorities appear to offer him support. He challenged the European Union’ s commitment to democracy, questioning their inaction in the face of such provocations against Nigeria. Musa underscored the need for diplomatic efforts to address the situation, insisting that Ekpa must be held accountable for his actions.
He further highlighted the disparity in international responses, suggesting that if the roles were reversed and Ekpa were operating in Finland, the European Union would likely take immediate action to prevent such activities. Musa’ s comments reflect a growing urgency among Nigerian officials to address the challenges posed by separatist movements and the perceived support they receive from foreign nations.
As tensions rise in the region, the implications of Ekpa’ s lockdown announcement and the Nigerian government’ s response will be closely monitored. The unfolding events could significantly impact the fragile security situation in the South- East and the broader dynamics of Nigeria’ s ongoing struggle with separatist sentiments. The coming weeks will likely reveal the extent to which both sides are willing to engage in confrontation or dialogue.
