In a recent development from Owerri, Imo State, Simon Ekpa, a prominent Biafran agitator based in Finland, has claimed responsibility for the ambush that resulted in the deaths of four police operatives and a civilian. This incident underscores the ongoing conflict in Nigeria’s South East region as tensions between separatist groups and security forces escalate.
On Monday evening, around 6:30 p.m., gunmen attacked police operatives along the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway. In addition to killing the four officers, the assailants also fatally shot a woman operating a Point of Sale (PoS) machine. The attack has been attributed to Ekpa’s faction, the Biafra Defence Forces, which is an armed wing of his Autopilot faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Ekpa, who leads the Autopilot faction and has founded both the Biafra Defence Forces and the Biafra Liberation Army, announced his group’s involvement in the attack via a post on his social media platform, X. The post, made at 8:50 p.m. on the same day, claimed that the operatives were “neutralized” and that weapons were recovered from them. Ekpa’s rhetoric often involves denouncing Nigerian security forces as “terrorists” and demanding their withdrawal from the South East region.
The Biafran agitator’s post included a video showing rifles and police files, purportedly taken from the scene of the attack. The video featured individuals who did not reveal their identities but spoke in Igbo, claiming that the police operatives had defied a sit-at-home order issued by Ekpa, which aimed to enforce a pause in activities across the South East from July 29 to August 2, excluding August 1.
The Nigerian government and local officials have condemned the attack. Imo State Police Commissioner Aboki Danjuma expressed outrage at the violence, describing it as a “gruesome murder” and attributing the attack to the proscribed IPOB/Eastern Security Network. A police statement indicated that the operatives were on a routine patrol when ambushed, leading to their deaths and the injury of another person.
The Commissioner of Police has called for public assistance in apprehending the perpetrators, urging anyone with information to contact local law enforcement. The police response includes deploying tactical units and increasing cooperation with other security agencies to track down those responsible.
The attack and Ekpa’s claim of responsibility highlight the ongoing instability in the South East, where separatist sentiments remain strong. The Finnish government has been under pressure from Nigerian officials to repatriate Ekpa for his alleged role in fueling unrest. However, Finnish authorities have emphasized the need to adhere to legal procedures and consider Ekpa’s rights as a Finnish citizen.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of violence and resistance linked to the Biafra separatist movement, which seeks to create an independent Biafra from parts of Nigeria.
