The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a strong statement condemning the Finnish government's decision to schedule Simon Ekpa's terrorism trial on May 30, a date the group considers sacred for commemorating Biafran martyrs.

In a statement released on Tuesday by IPOB spokesman Emma Powerful, the group accused the British government and what it termed "foreign conspirators" of attempting to criminalize the Biafra self-determination movement through Ekpa, whom they have explicitly disassociated from their organization.

"We condemn in the strongest terms the decision of the Finnish authorities undoubtedly influenced by the British Foreign Office to schedule the trial of Simon Ekpa on May 30th, a sacred day for Biafrans when we honour the memory of our five million martyrs murdered during the genocidal war against our people," the statement read.

IPOB emphasized that the timing of the trial was not coincidental but rather a "carefully calculated insult designed to mock our pain, distort our history, and distract from the continued illegal detention and persecution" of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The group categorically stated that Simon Ekpa is not a member of IPOB and has been publicly disowned by Nnamdi Kanu himself. According to their statement, during his court appearance in Finland, Ekpa described himself merely as a "content creator" rather than a freedom fighter or representative of IPOB.

"Any attempt by foreign or Nigerian media to link his actions to IPOB is fraudulent, lazy, and malicious," Powerful declared.

The statement further accused the British establishment of hypocrisy, claiming it "supervised the slaughter of 5 million Biafrans and the abduction and extraordinary rendition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in violation of international law" while remaining "deafeningly silent on the daily atrocities committed by Fulani terrorists across Nigeria."

IPOB reiterated that it is not a terrorist organization and does not engage in armed struggle, describing itself as "the only peaceful and disciplined mass movement in the whole of Africa" that is guided by international law and the right to self-determination as enshrined in the African Charter and the United Nations Charter.

As the group prepares to mark Biafra Heroes Day on May 30, 2025, it urged all Biafrans and supporters worldwide to remain focused, stating that "The enemies of our struggle are trying to provoke us. They want to rewrite our story. They will fail. Biafra is a divine project. No force on earth can stop it."