The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government of orchestrating a media smear campaign aimed at discrediting its leadership and derailing its self-determination efforts.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, the group condemned what it described as “relentless and insidious media manipulation” by the Nigerian state. It called on the international community, global media, and Biafrans to reject what it termed deliberate falsehoods designed to malign its image and mislead the public about Kanu’s ongoing legal travails.
According to IPOB, the government has been actively promoting “fake news and manipulative propaganda” to sway public opinion and distort facts surrounding its leader’s detention and legal battle.
The group cited as an example recent claims that a Finnish court had approved the extradition of Simon Ekpa to Nigeria—a narrative IPOB dismissed as entirely fabricated.
“This false report, suspiciously timed with the visit of Igbo veterans to Capitol Hill to brief the U.S. State Department on the massacre of defenceless indigenous people in Nigeria, is clearly a diversionary tactic,” the statement read. “It is designed to draw attention away from the human rights abuses being committed by the Nigerian government.”
IPOB also reiterated that Simon Ekpa is not affiliated with the organisation, stating unequivocally: “Simon Ekpa is not, and has never been, a member of IPOB.”
The group accused Ekpa of running a criminal outfit known as the Biafra Liberation Army (BLA), which it claimed is being used by political actors within the APC to incite violence and undermine IPOB’s peaceful advocacy.
“Ekpa has publicly distanced himself from IPOB and admitted in a Finnish court that he operates as a ‘content creator.’ This confession alone exposes his true role as a hired provocateur,” the group stated.
IPOB further warned the media to desist from linking Ekpa to the organisation, stating that such associations are part of a broader disinformation campaign.
“Any individual, group, or outlet that portrays Simon Ekpa as an IPOB representative is complicit in the APC government’s agenda to suppress the truth and perpetuate injustice,” the statement concluded.
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