Senator Orji Kalu, representing Abia North, disclosed receiving threats from Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), due to his opposition to the Biafra movement. In a recent interview with Arise Television, Kalu emphasized the importance of intelligence-driven security measures and urged South-East governors to adopt a firm approach against non-state actors.
Kalu recounted, “Simon Ekpa was calling and threatening me that I don’t support Biafra, but I left him to his conscience.” He underscored his commitment to safeguarding lives and property, stating, “You must be a strong leader to condemn crime, and I eradicated crime. No governor should tolerate any type of crime in his state; it is not allowed.”
This revelation follows the November 21 arrest of Simon Ekpa in Finland. The Päijät-Häme District Court detained Ekpa on charges of public incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent, related to his social media activities promoting violence in Nigeria’s South-East.
The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation is conducting the probe with international cooperation. Authorities suspect that Ekpa’s online campaigns have incited violence against civilians and public officials in Nigeria.
A Finnish district court has scheduled May 2025 for the prosecution to file charges against Ekpa.
Kalu’s call to action highlights the ongoing challenges in addressing separatist agitations and underscores the necessity for decisive leadership in combating threats to national security.
