ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has called for the arrest of Simon Ekpa, a self-acclaimed disciple of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), over the killings and destructions in the South-East.
The Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro said Ekpa should be arrested and repatriated to Nigeria for prosecution over the violence in the region.
Isiguzoro also identified Ekpa as one of those instigating the killings and destructions in the Southeast.
Recall that Ekpa who is based in Finland recently declared a five-day sit-at-home across the South-East.
IPOB had distanced itself from the order by Ekpa and urged residents of the region to go about their activities.
However, Isiguzoro said Ohanaeze would liaise with the Finish Embassy and relevant authorities to ensure that Ekpa is arrested and repatriated to Nigeria to face the consequences of his actions.
A statement by Isiguzoro reads: āOhanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has commenced the processes of making sure that those responsible for the pandemonium, destruction of public properties, killings, and civil unrest in the southeast will face the consequences of their actions, the incitement of chaos, and their contributions towards the insecurity challenges in the Southeast.
āNdigbo has identified Simon Ekpa as the overseas provocateur and instigator for the current killings in Imo state, the destruction of public properties in Enugu State, and disturbance of public peace and sporadic shootings in Ebonyi State.
āNdigbo will liaise with relevant organizations, Finish Embassy in Nigeria, and Nigerians in Diaspora to seek ways to bring Simon Ekpa back to Nigeria to face prosecution and trials over the killings of south easterners, burning of public properties and the disturbances of public peace.ā
Isiguzoro further accused Ekpa of issuing evil decrees against the collection of Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, in the South-East, and described him as a criminal hiding under the Finish citizenship and Biafra agitation to wreak havoc and extort monies from Nigerians abroad.
āThe so-called self-acclaimed Biafran agitator is championing the disruption of election processes in the southeast, with evil decrees against the collection of PVCs in the southeast, and institute an illegal but violent sit at homes, to undermine the economy of Ndigbo in this festive seasons and stimulate violence, massacres, and chaos as Christmas gifts for Ndigbo.
āNdigbo calls for the immediate arrest, and repatriation of Simon Ekpa, to Nigeria, heās a trickery man and criminal hiding behind Finish citizenship and Biafra agitation to wreak havoc, extort monies from Nigerians abroad, and influence the insecurity challenges against Ndigbo,” the statement added.
He continued: āThis is the height of deception and treachery against Ndigbo, and the immediate arrest of Simon Ekpa will end up insecurity challenges in the east and serve as a deterrent to others, who might want to consider being a menace to the public, particularly to the people of the southeast.ā