The Simon Ekpa-led faction of the Biafra government has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Nigerian government, demanding the release of detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and other South-Easterners held across the country. Ekpa’s declaration, made through a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, adds further tension to an already charged atmosphere in the South-East, where civil unrest and frequent sit-at-home orders have destabilized the region.
Ekpa’s ultimatum follows a recent two-day lockdown in the South-East, attributed to a sit-at-home order that Ekpa and IPOB leadership later disclaimed. Now, he is calling for an immediate release of all South-Eastern detainees and is urging judges of South-East origin who serve in other parts of the country to return home.
In his message, Ekpa revealed that the ultimatum decision was passed at an emergency cabinet meeting held on October 24, 2024. “The Biafra Government, in an emergency cabinet meeting today, 24.10.2024, voted and approved a resolution to demand the Nigerian government to return every Biafran being detained outside Biafraland within 72 hours,” the statement read, adding that the deadline will expire on Sunday, October 27.
He accused the Nigerian judicial system of fostering instability in the South-East through the installation of “anti-people governors” and declared that failure to meet his demands would result in a lockdown of all federal institutions in the South-East, including courts, beginning October 29.
The Biafra agitator’s statement has sparked significant concern, with many fearing increased unrest in a region already fraught with tension. Ekpa has gained traction as a divisive figure in the push for Biafran independence and has repeatedly called for direct action against Nigerian authorities in pursuit of the movement’s goals.
Nnamdi Kanu, whose detention has become a rallying point for Biafran agitators, was repatriated to Nigeria from Kenya in 2021 and has since remained in detention, a situation that continues to deepen unrest in the region. His detainment has sparked widespread condemnation from international bodies and human rights advocates, who have criticized Nigeria’s handling of the situation.
The looming deadline has raised questions about the Nigerian government’s next steps, as failure to address Ekpa’s demands could lead to increased disruptions, especially with the threat of a federal lockdown in the South-East. As Ekpa and his faction stand firm, the region braces for potential confrontations that could further challenge national unity.
