The Organisation of Emerging African States (OEAS) has expressed strong concerns over the continued detention of Simon Ekpa, a prominent Biafra separatist, and Ayaba Lucas Cho, an Ambazonia activist, in Finland and Norway, respectively.
In a statement issued on Thursday and jointly signed by OEAS legal counsel Jonathan Levy and Secretary General Ebenezer Akwanga, the organization described the charges against Ekpa and Cho as politically motivated and an infringement on their fundamental human rights.
The OEAS alleges that the Nigerian and Cameroonian governments are collaborating with authorities in Finland and Norway to suppress the activists, who advocate for the self-determination of Biafra and Ambazonia.
Simon Ekpa, referred to as the Prime Minister of the United States of Biafra, and Ayaba Lucas Cho, leader of the Ambazonia Defence Forces, are reportedly being detained for their efforts to seek independence for their respective regions. The OEAS maintains that their detention violates international human rights standards.
The group called for the immediate release of both activists, citing the European Convention on Human Rights and other international treaties. They also demanded that any allegations against Ekpa and Cho be transferred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for impartial evaluation.
“Norway and Finland should be mindful that the root causes of the situations in Nigeria and Cameroon stem from decades of oppression of the Biafran and Ambazonian peoples,” the statement read.
The OEAS highlighted that in 2024, Ekpa and Cho strengthened a 2021 diplomatic agreement between Biafra and Ambazonia to include mutual cooperation for self-defense against human rights abuses. This development reportedly intensified calls from Nigerian and Cameroonian authorities for their arrests.
The statement further alleged that during a meeting between Nordic ministers, the Nigerian government, and ECOWAS in Abuja in August 2024, political cooperation agreements included provisions for the arrests of Ekpa and Cho. Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen, was quoted in Nigerian media on August 14, 2024, as promising that Ekpa’s arrest was imminent.
The OEAS urged Norway and Finland to adhere to international human rights laws, including the European Convention on Human Rights, the Treaty on European Union, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
“Any evidence of war crimes, genocide, or crimes against humanity committed by the agents and armed forces of Nigeria and Cameroon should be referred to the International Criminal Court, which has the appropriate expertise to evaluate such cases,” the statement added.
Ekpa and Cho were arrested on November 18 and September 24, 2024, respectively, on charges related to incitement and terrorism. Following Ekpa’s arrest, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, announced plans to extradite him. Similarly, Cameroonian authorities have been pursuing Cho’s extradition from Norway.
The OEAS continues to advocate for justice, urging European governments to ensure fair treatment for the detained activists and uphold international standards of human rights and justice.
Comments