Rita Odafe
Orji Uzor Kalu
Orji Uzor Kalu, a senator for Abia North, has revealed that Simon Ekpa, who claims to lead the banned group Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), threatened him over his lack of support for the Biafran movement.
This statement came during a recent interview with Arise Television on Monday.
Simon Ekpa, a citizen of both Finland and Nigeria, was detained by Finnish law enforcement on November 21, 2024, and is currently held by the district court of Päijät-Häme.
He faces serious allegations related to promoting terrorism on social media in 2021, thought to have incited violence in Nigeria’s southeastern regions.
The Nigerian government is pushing for Ekpa’s extradition to stand trial in Nigeria, while a Finnish court has given a deadline of May 2025 for any formal charges to be laid against him.
Kalu emphasized the need for security agencies to enhance their intelligence efforts, highlighting the importance of taking proactive steps to tackle crime.
He expressed, “I am very determined regarding security, and I will do everything in my power to protect the lives and properties of the people I serve.
“A true leader must denounce crime; I have worked hard to eliminate criminal activities. No governor should allow any form of crime to persist in their state; it’s unacceptable.
“The Igbo people need to ensure their own safety. Both the federal and state governments must collaborate on this issue, and the military should remove all roadblocks across Igbo territories.
“Staging temporary stops along roads is no longer a viable security measure; true security relies on intelligence gathering.
“Simon Ekpa made threats towards me for not supporting Biafra, but I leave that matter to his own conscience.
“My conscience is clear: I am a democrat, proud to be an Igbo, and I believe in the unity of this nation and the well-being of my community in Igbere.”
Kalu urged southeastern governors to take a firm and decisive approach against the actions of non-state actors.
