The recent six-year prison sentence handed to Biafra agitator Simon Ekpa by a Finnish court has stirred mixed reactions across Southeast Nigeria, where the impact of separatist movements remains deeply felt.
Ekpa was convicted in Finland for terrorism-related offenses and for activities that fueled violence in Nigeria’s Southeast. His sentencing has reignited debate over the fate of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB, who is currently facing prosecution by the Nigerian government for similar offenses. While some in the region are calling for the same harsh punishment to be extended to Kanu, others have gone as far as demanding that both agitators be executed for the widespread violence and disruption they allegedly caused.
Across the Southeast, residents continue to reckon with the long-term effects of the Monday sit-at-home orders, alongside a wave of kidnappings and killings that have devastated communities and paralyzed local economies. Many attribute these disturbances directly to the campaigns led by Kanu and Ekpa.
As a result, calls have intensified for the government to take more decisive action against Kanu, with the hope that it would deter similar movements in the future. At the same time, some voices are advocating for a more reconciliatory approach, suggesting that Kanu’s release could help restore peace to the troubled region.
