Biafra Govt -in-Exile Seeks US Congress Halt on Arms Sale to Nigeria

Biafra Govt-in-Exile Seeks US Congress Halt on Arms Sale to Nigeria

 

 

 

The Simon Ekpa-led Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE) has called on lawmakers in the United States to suspend the sale of arms to Nigeria over alleged human rights violations in the South-East.

 

BRGIE’s Acting Prime Minister, Ogechukwu Nkere, made the appeal while on a visit to Washington, where he met with Congressman Brian Mast (Republican–Florida), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Congresswoman Lamonica McIver (Democrat–New Jersey).

 

Nkere argued that the request became imperative following what he described as “gross rights abuses,” including the continued detention of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is standing trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

 

He further disclosed that he sought the counsel of the US lawmakers on Finland’s conviction of Ekpa, noting that he assumed leadership of BRGIE after Ekpa’s detention.

 

“In addition, I met with Ambassador Tibor Nagy, a longtime senior US State Department official and diplomat with extensive postings in Africa,” Nkere said in a statement yesterday.

 

He explained that the discussions centered on securing strategic US engagement with BRGIE, halting arms sales to Nigeria, and seeking international intervention in Kanu’s case.

 

Nkere also urged Washington to intervene in what he termed Finland’s “persecution” of Ekpa, stressing that the US should secure the release of both detained Biafra agitators.

 

Both Kanu and Ekpa remain in detention—Kanu in Nigeria, and Ekpa following his conviction in Finland.