The Enugu State Government has wasted no time celebrating the arrest of Simon Ekpa by Finnish authorities, calling him nothing less than a “terrorist and criminal.” In a statement that drips with disdain, the state government accused Ekpa of wreaking havoc in the South-East from the comfort of his Finnish sanctuary while pretending to champion the Igbo cause.
Ekpa, a self-proclaimed separatist, was arrested and detained by a district court in Lahti on charges of terrorism. The news was welcomed with open arms by the Enugu government, which is more than ready to collaborate with Finnish authorities to ensure he faces the music. According to the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, the arrest could finally bring some much-needed stability to the region.
“The Enugu State Government welcomes the arrest of the Finland-based terrorist, Simon Ekpa,” Onyia said in a statement. “His arrest and trial will no doubt strengthen peace, security, and stability in all parts of the South-East.”
The tone of the statement left no room for ambiguity: Ekpa is not just a nuisance but a menace. The government accused him of orchestrating a reign of terror in the region, destroying lives, property, and the entrepreneurial spirit that defines the Igbo people. And all of this, they claim, while exploiting his followers and enriching himself under the guise of restoring Biafra.
“Ekpa has, for too long and unfortunately from Finland, made a living by creating a siege mentality in the South-East,” the statement continued. “He thrives on manipulating and extorting the people under the pretence of fighting for their interests and the restoration of Biafra.”
Ekpa, a man who preaches liberation from abroad, has allegedly turned the South-East into a land of fear and destruction, all while being comfortably removed from the consequences. The government’s statement hints at the same sentiment shared by many, the hypocrisy of agitating for freedom while creating chaos from thousands of miles away. Can you just imagine! Being miles away, and dictating to the Igbos on how to live their lives, a big hypocrite if you ask me.
The state has pledged its full cooperation with Finnish authorities to ensure that Ekpa answers for his alleged crimes. If their statement is anything to go by, they’re ready to present a alot of evidence to back up their claims that Ekpa’s actions have done nothing but harm the people he claims to represent.
