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Supporters gather in Lahti to demand release of Nigerian separatist Simon Ekpa

Tuesday 3rd 2024 on 16:24 in  
Finland

Supporters of the Biafran independence movement gathered on Tuesday in the snowy square of Lahti to demonstrate for the release of local-Nigerian Simon Ekpa, who is considered by many to be the Prime Minister of Biafra. Demonstrators traveled from around the globe to establish a voice for Biafra. Ekpa was arrested at the end of November on suspicions of inciting terrorism through public calls for criminal action. He has previously stated that he leads a separatist group in Nigeria aiming to create an independent Biafran state in the southeastern part of the country. Authorities suspect that Ekpa has promoted these efforts from Finland, leading to violence and other crimes in southeastern Nigeria.

Approximately 200 protesters showed their support for Biafra’s independence and called for Ekpa’s release. A representative from a group that labels itself the Biafran government-in-exile declared Biafra’s independence in Lahti without Ekpa present. Ngozi Orabueze, the spokesperson for the group, emphasized that Ekpa has committed no illegal acts, claiming, “Simon Ekpa has not done anything illegal except fight for our freedom. He has not incited violence. We are here of our own volition.”

The snowfall may have affected turnout, as the police anticipated around 500 participants. The demonstrators chanted “Biafra” and “Ekpa,” dancing and singing the Biafran anthem “Land of the Rising Sun,” which incorporates the melody from Jean Sibelius’s Finlandia.

Biafra, located in the southern region of Nigeria, has experienced unrest in recent years but has not faced a widespread armed conflict seeking independence. The region made headlines during the 1960s and 70s when the Biafran Republic attempted to secede, leading to a devastating war that resulted in around one million deaths.

Source 
(via yle.fi)