SaharaReporters on Wednesday had reported that Ekpa asked indigenes of Southeast Nigeria popularly known as Igbos, who are resident in Lagos to observe a sit-at-home exercise over an alleged attack on them.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has distanced itself from a sit-at-home order in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, issued by one Simon Ekpa, Finland-based self-acclaimed disciple of its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
SaharaReporters on Wednesday had reported that Ekpa asked indigenes of Southeast Nigeria popularly known as Igbos, who are resident in Lagos to observe a sit-at-home exercise over an alleged attack on them.
Ekpa in a tweet on Tuesday said that the sit-at-home exercise is targeted at crippling the economy of the Lagos state government.
But reacting to the sit-at-home order, IPOB in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, described the order as laughable and disgraceful.
According to Powerful, “IPOB has never issued any sit-at-home order outside Biafra Land. Anyone issuing any sit at home orders in Biafra or in Lagos is on his or her own and not doing so on behalf of Mazi Nnamdi KANU nor of IPOB. Therefore, IPOB publicly disassociates ourselves from any purported sit at home call in Lagos or anywhere in Nigeria, including Biafra Land at this time.
“Any day IPOB issues a sit at home order, the reasons for the sit at home will be made public, and it will be observed only in Biafra Region and any other regions that may like to join.”
He further stated that “We are aware that Yoruba politicians are using political thugs and criminals to attack Ndigbo in Lagos, but they will regret their actions soon.
“Ndigbo in Lagos should know that IPOB is not looking for popularity but only interested in protecting all Biafrans irrespective of their location in the world until Biafra is restored and beyond.
“IPOB has no faction, let alone having a factional leader. The chief infiltrator in Finland has been ignored by Biafrans in his mindless sit at homes in the East; perhaps he thinks Ndigbo in Lagos will be so daft to obey his sit-at-home order in Lagos. We know our people are wise.”
He noted that the leader of IPOB remains Kanu who is currently being detained in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja, while those piloting IPOB struggle in Kanu’s absence are Directorate of State (DOS) members headed by Mazi Chika Edoziem.
“The Finland-based double agent in question is not an IPOB member. A word is enough for the wise,” IPOB noted.