Simon Ekpa Denies Role in South-East Killings, Slams Radio Biafra Over Defamation

 

Detained Biafra separatist leader Simon Ekpa has strongly denied allegations linking him and his affiliated groups to violent incidents reported in Nigeria’s South-East. Through his legal representative, Mr. Jonathan Levy, Ekpa criticized what he described as a defamatory campaign targeting him and his organization, the United States of Biafra (USB), following a recent publication by Biafra Radio.

A March 27 report on Biafra Radio alleged that operatives of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) were not responsible for acts of violence in Orsu and other communities within Imo and Anambra States. The article appeared to shift blame toward other factions, particularly Ekpa’s USB and its defense wing, the Biafra Liberation Army (BLA). Ekpa and his team say this is a grave misrepresentation.

In a sharply worded statement, Mr. Levy described the publication as not only defamatory but also dangerous. “The article falsely alleges, either directly or implicitly, that Mr. Ekpa, the BLA, and by extension, USB, are responsible for murder and violence in southeastern Nigeria,” the lawyer said. “These accusations are not only baseless but constitute actionable libel under both UK and US defamation laws.”

Ekpa, who is currently undergoing legal proceedings in Finland, has become a controversial figure in the Biafran independence struggle. While his faction claims to be engaged solely in political advocacy, others have accused his leadership of inciting unrest and fostering militant activities—claims he continues to reject vehemently.

The USB, led by Ekpa and deputized by Ngozi Orabueze, is calling for a full retraction of the Biafra Radio piece. The group believes the report, allegedly linked to IPOB’s media spokesperson Emma Powerful, was not only misleading but also potentially a product of internal sabotage. “No true Biafran would accuse a fellow leader, especially one in detention, of such heinous crimes without concrete evidence,” the group stated.

According to the USB, the article has triggered real-world consequences beyond mere reputational harm. Levy noted that the statements have endangered the lives of USB affiliates and disrupted ongoing diplomatic efforts to advance Biafran self-determination through lawful means.

The group also raised concerns about the integrity of Radio Biafra, suggesting the media platform may have been infiltrated by elements seeking to create division within the pro-Biafra movement. They argue that the tone and structure of the report seem intentionally crafted to incite hostility against Ekpa and discredit his leadership at a critical time.

While political tensions remain high in Nigeria’s South-East, this latest episode reflects a deeper rift within the Biafran agitation circles, raising questions about unity and strategy among its key players. Ekpa’s camp insists that the allegations are part of a broader agenda to silence alternative voices in the independence struggle.

With threats of legal action looming, the USB has made clear that it will not tolerate what it views as smear campaigns designed to undermine its credibility. As Ekpa faces trial abroad, the battle over narratives and legitimacy within the Biafran movement appears far from over.