Members of the pro-Biafran movement led by Simon Ekpa have lamented a significant decline in donations following the arrest of their leader by Finnish authorities.
Sources within the group revealed that before Ekpa’s arrest, financial contributions were steady and robust.
However, they expressed concerns that the situation has now taken a downturn. According to them, many supporters appear to have lost faith in the Biafran cause, especially after declarations made in Finland failed to produce tangible results. Instead, they claimed, ongoing calls for donations from Biafran leaders have left followers disillusioned.
The group also criticized internal divisions, alleging that Ekpa’s supporters are now fractured into factions, engaging in public disputes on social media rather than addressing the current challenges.
In November 2024, Finnish authorities detained Simon Ekpa and four others on suspicion of terror-related activities, including incitement to violence and terrorism financing. The district court in Lahti, Finland, remanded Ekpa on probable grounds of public incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent in Nigeria. Finnish officials accused the separatist leader of using social media to spread propaganda linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The decline in donations has raised questions about the future of the Biafran agitation under Ekpa’s leadership, as supporters continue to grapple with the fallout of his arrest.
