South-East CSOs Demand Simon Ekpa’s Extradition To Nigeria, Plan Protest

Some civil society organisations based in the South-East have asked for the extradition of Simon Ekpa, a self-acclaimed follower of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, from Finland, where he is said to be based.

The groups, Ndi Igbo Action Group, Biafrans for Nigeria, and Concerned Citizens of Nigeria, said in a joint communiqué after a meeting on Thursday noted that the residents of the region were concerned about the ‘worrisome’ situation occasioned by incessant sit-at-home orders in the region.

It also noted that they had come together to organize and lead a one-million-man-march to press the Finnish Government and request the Federal Government of Nigeria to extradite Simon Ekpa back to Nigeria for prosecution in order to end the notorious killings in the region.

The protest, the communiqué revealed, would take place on August 28 at the Finnish Embassy from the Unity Fountain, down to the National Assembly Complex, State House, Abuja.

“We are going to match down to the Finnish Embassy to demand Ekpa’s release to the FG for his arrest and to face prosecution for the role he played and continues to play in the deadly sit-at-home orders in the South-East of Nigeria.

“What began as a simple show of solidarity in support of the embattled leader of Kanu over his incarceration by the Nigerian government has now become an albatross and a monster consuming the entire South-East region of Nigeria.

“In the few years since the sit-at-home began, we have seen it spill out of control and have taken dangerous dimensions.

“The extreme violence, wanton destruction of lives and property, and the loss in revenue due to frequent shutdowns in socio-economic activities that have characterized the exercise makes it impossible for any sensible and rational thinking Igbo man and woman to believe that the exercise is still in the interest of Igbo people.

“IPOB on several occasions has denied that it is behind the sit-at-home orders, yet it has continued unabated with its characteristically high level of violence, wanton destruction of property and loss of lives and disruptions in socio-economic activities.

“IPOB emphatic denials and rejection of the sit-at-home orders undoubtedly indicate that the exercise has been hijacked by rogue elements led by a self-proclaimed leader of IPOB, Simon Ekpa, who to this day, enjoys sanctuary in Finland and protected by the Finnish Government,” the communiqué read in part.