Nigerian government designates Simon Ekpa, IPOB members, Lakurawa and 15 firms as terrorism financiers

The Nigerian government has officially designated Simon Ekpa, the self-styled leader of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE), the Lakurawa terror group, and 15 business entities as terrorism financiers.

Documents released by the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NSC) following its March 6 meeting revealed that 13 of the designated entities are linked to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) or BRGIE. The latest designation was approved by President Bola Tinubu.

The listed IPOB or BRGIE members include Godstime Iyare, Francis Mmaduabuchi, John Onwumere, Chikwuka Eze, Edwin Chukwuedo, Chinwendu Owoh, Ginika Orji, Awo Uchechukwu, Mercy Ali, Ohagwu Juliana, Eze Okpoto, Nwaobi Chimezie, and Ogomu Kewe. Two business entities, Igwe Ka Ala Enterprises and Seficuvi Global Company, were also designated.

The NSC, chaired by Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, stated that the persons and businesses were designated for their involvement in terrorism financing. Their assets are now subject to immediate identification and freezing without prior notice.

For Simon Ekpa, who operates from Finland, the NSC cited his facilitation of 49 fundraisers in multiple countries between October 2023 and September 2024. The committee reported that Ekpa used social media to order attacks on government facilities, leading to the loss of security personnel and destruction of property in Nigeria’s Southeast.

Lakurawa, a terror group linked to al-Qaeda-affiliate Jama’at Nusrat Al-Islam Wal Muslimin (JNIM), was designated for its violent attacks, foreign recruitment, radicalization efforts, and illegal taxation in Nigeria’s Northwest. The NSC warned that Lakurawa poses a significant transborder security threat and must be curtailed to prevent further violence.

In addition to individuals, business entities such as Igwe Ka Ala Enterprises and Seficuvi Global Company were identified as financial conduits for IPOB and BRGIE. The NSC alleged that bank accounts linked to these entities were used to collect donations for the groups’ activities.

IPOB, which seeks the secession of Nigeria’s Southeast, was designated a terrorist organization by the Nigerian government in 2017. Its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, was arrested in Kenya in 2021 and remains in detention. Despite this, IPOB continues its violent campaigns, while security forces have intensified crackdowns on the group.

Meanwhile, Finnish authorities arrested Simon Ekpa and four others in November last year on suspicion of terrorist activities, following diplomatic pressure from Nigeria. Legal proceedings against them are ongoing in Finland.