Ngozi Orabueze, the Chief of Staff in the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE) an armed wing militant lead by Simon Ekpa, has called for the continuation of the Monday sit-at-home initiative in Nigeria’s Southeast despite Ekpa’s recent arrest by Finnish authorities.
Orabueze’s statement underscores her unwavering allegiance to Ekpa. Praising the Biafra Defence Forces, for the ongoing killing in the South-East region and said, “We are so very proud of our Biafra Defence Forces for what they do daily to eliminate terrorists wearing Nigeria army and police uniforms in our land”
Simon Ekpa has been a prominent advocate for the sit-at-home protests, which he claims show solidarity with the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. His social media platforms frequently highlight the enforcement of these protests, often linked to reports of violence. Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has reportedly sought Ekpa’s extradition, despite his Finnish citizenship.
In a social media post, Orabueze expressed gratitude to Finland for “protecting” Ekpa, whom she referred to as “Our Able Prime Minister.” She accused the Nigerian government, led by President Bola Tinubu, of being a “terrorist state” that oppresses the Biafran movement and engages in human rights violations.
“Thank you so much to the Finland government for protecting our Able Prime Minister, H.E. Simon Ekpa, from the terrorist Nigeria state headed by President Tinubu, Christopher Musa, and Godswill Akpabio,” Orabueze wrote.
Call to Action Ahead of December 2 Independence Event
As part of her statement, Orabueze highlighted the upcoming Biafra Independence Re-Declaration event scheduled for December 2, 2024, in Finland. She called on Biafrans worldwide to continue donating to sustain the Monday sit-at-home initiative, which she described as a collective and voluntary act of resistance.
“As Biafrans all over the world converge in Finland next week for the Biafra Independence Re-Declaration on December 2nd, we wish to inform Biafrans that the Monday Sit-at-home in all Biafraland, voluntarily agreed upon by all Biafrans, must be maintained,” she declared.
Orabueze commended the efforts of Biafrans globally for raising awareness about alleged human rights abuses by the Nigerian government. She accused the government of engaging in “gross human rights violations, terrorism, forced disappearances of innocent citizens, and the killing of peaceful protesters in Nigeria and Biafraland.”
Allegations of Human Rights Violations
According to Orabueze, the Finnish authorities had received evidence supporting these claims, which she said demonstrate violations of international human rights laws by the Nigerian government. She called on the international community to take notice and act in support of Biafra’s quest for independence.
The arrest of Simon Ekpa and the continued enforcement of the sit-at-home directive have drawn significant attention to the ongoing struggle in Southeast Nigeria. The Biafra independence movement remains a contentious issue, reflecting deep-seated divisions and longstanding grievances within the region.
