Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North Senatorial District, has disclosed that he received threats from Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), for not supporting the Biafran agitation.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Monday, Kalu recounted how Ekpa attempted to intimidate him, which he chose to ignore, standing firm in his opposition to the movement.
“Simon Ekpa was calling and threatening me that I don’t support Biafra, but I left him to his conscience,” Kalu said.
The lawmaker stressed the importance of proactive security measures, urging security agencies to rely on intelligence to address crime effectively.
He also called on south-east governors to take a firm stance against non-state actors, emphasizing that no form of criminal activity should be tolerated.
“I am very strong-willed when it comes to security, and I can do anything to safeguard the lives and property of the people I represent,” he said.
“You must be a strong leader to condemn crime. No governor should tolerate any type of crime in his state; it is not allowed.”
The senator’s remarks come amid the arrest of Simon Ekpa in Finland. Finnish police detained the pro-Biafra agitator on November 21 on charges related to spreading terrorist propaganda on social media.
A district court in Päijät-Häme, Finland, subsequently remanded him in custody, setting May 2025 as the deadline for prosecutors to file charges.