By: Muheeb Mashood
Following a careful observation of BRGIE operations online, Muheeb Mashood spends months to investigate how several X accounts push hoax narratives, organise online meetings to promote Biafra freedom, and uncover the untold hardships suffer by the residents living in the Southeastern Nigeria as a result of the online campaigns.
From the first-generational Biafra movement led by the former military head Chukwuemeka Odumegu Ojukwu when the Eastern Nigeria seceded in 1967, to the contemporary Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu, and now to the Autopilot faction leader Simon Ekpa, the agitation for Biafra Nation has become an endless struggle—deploying a more brutal method—with millions of ruins being trapped in the process.
The 1967 armed conflict claims at least 500,000 and three million lives. Majority of the deaths owe to starvation causes by blockade imposed by the then federal government of Nigeria.
Ekpa Simon Njoku famously known as Simon Ekpa is a 40-years-old man born to a Nigerian couple in Ohaukwu, Ebonyi state. He has a fair-boyish-round face. His appearance, utterances and actions suggest a tough man.
He enjoys a Finland domicile after he renounces Nigerian citizenship, following his active participation in Biafra political activism. He is a Finnish politician, and serves as a city councillor under the National Coalition Party. He also serves in the military, married and blessed with a son.
In 2022, he launches the activation of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE), and declares himself as the prime minister of the movement in 2023.
Since then, the Autopilot faction of the IPOB movement has become a threat to Nigeria. The armed group has actively engages in fierce fights with the Nigerian authorities, with constant imposition of sit-at-home order on the residents of the southeast.
Commenting on the group’s terror, a Nigerian minister, Zubairu Dada says: “When (Ekpa) gives instructions, destruction follows. They cause killing, maiming, fires, whatever.” Similarly, Nigerian General, Christopher Gwabin Musa remarks “In the South-east, Simon Ekpa has become a menace to this country. The country must act on it diplomatically. (Ekpa) is having a freeway because (Finland) is encouraging him to do what he is doing. His utterances and actions are affecting what is happening in Nigeria.”
The Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ) declares him wanted alongside 90 others for terrorism, kidnapping and other crimes in the country in March 2024, and was arrested by the Finnish government in November of the same year.
BRGIE Online Propaganda Where Struggle Meets Supports
Michael Ugochukwu is among other members of Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) whom nothing can change the narrative of seeing the new Biafra struggle as a sailor to their long-anticipated goal of becoming an independent nation while breaking away from Nigeria—the only way to realise their full potential. He regards Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed prime minister of the Biafra states (now behind the bar) as the only messiah who will lead Southeastern Nigeria to independence.
During an online X meeting holds in November 2024, Ugochukwu’s voice reminisces a fight for survival as the cornerstone of the ongoing struggle pilots by the 40-year-old Finland base Ekpa. Gripped with thoughts of marginalisation, he considers the extreme savagery being used by the Autopilot faction as the only method to demand freedom from the Nigerian authorities. Many of those meetings have been hold overtime to promote Biafra freedom.
Since 2022, the current IPOB leader has adopted a highly violent method for his campaign in a bid to forcefully free Biafraland from Nigeria. He has constantly engaged Nigeria authorities in armed conflicts, losing hundreds of lives, and having little or no regard to people’s safety—nothing incomparable to terrorism. Yet, obstinate people like Ugochukwu flags people that condemn Ekpa’s ambition as Biafra enemies. “During the time of COVID-19, Fulanis were trooping into Nigeria through the Northern border without even accreditation or documentation. How many of you can give an account of their whereabouts now? Do you know how many of them are in our land in the Southeast right now that we cannot give account of them,” Ugochukwu laments describing the needs for Ekpa’s action.
“We need Biafra so that we can be able to police our own border. So that we can know who is coming in and who is going out. Biafra is not about the presidency or segregation. It is a fight for survival.
“It is too late to fight Nigeria politically because these people have taken over everywhere.You can not claim that Simon is killing our own people. What evidence do you have?”
Emmanuel Ifeanyi is another speaker who holds an identical belief as Ugochukwu. He wails with aggro when he was granted an audience to speak during the same meeting. “People are angry in that country, people are suffering in that country,” he says. “If people like Simon Ekpa can rise up, if you do not want to support him, do not discourage other Nigerians from supporting him. We need force, force by force. If they hold us by force, we should fight them by force,” he proceeds.
Like other lobbyists, the blood-and-guts struggle employed by the Biafra leader seems nothing but a sacrifice for Biafra freedom.
One thing is certain from their story, the feeling of marginalization accountable for the propaganda being witnessed in the region.
Stories from the Other Angle
It was another online meeting organised in the same month. The stage looks tense. The prime minister was in attendance when attendees voice their indignation over the ongoing bizarre fight between the armed separatists and the Nigerian authorities, with thousands of lives being put on the line.
Some minutes into the meeting, a young man with a fluent assent, sitting in a room occupied with books weigh in. Identified as Tone, he challenges the leader of the armed group to cease his blood-thirsty fight, sending young men to their early graves while sitting relaxed in his home far away from the countryside.
Suggesting a more reasonable means to fight for freedom, he doubts if Ekpa ever undergoes any military training despite leading people in a violent and ferocious fight. Opposing Ekpa’s authority as a legitimate leader of Biafra, he protests “Nobody voted you as the prime minister. Some group of people came together and gave you the title. The title “prime minister” is inconsequential.”
Under the pretense of a smug smile, with a face wearing frustration, Simon Ekpa interrupts the speaker, and asks if he had a question. Continuing with his stance, Tone questions the separatists’ leader before he gives up the audience. “When are you going to stop your directives, and ask young men to go into their early graves? Because it is not right.”
Another speaker attending the meeting was a man in his late 50s, identifies as Oshakuade. When sounds insupportable, the BRGIE prime minister immediately breaks him with a threat. He says “Do not ever go to the Southeast with your ID card if you are a Nigerian army. I’m just advising you personally.”
Throughout the meeting, every speaker who solicits against the actions of the secessionist group was denied further audience.
Inside Simon Ekpa Cyber-Terrorism
Simon Ekpa gains notoriety to Nigeria media in 2019 when he posted a misleading video, claiming that the Northern high prolific terrorist organisation (Boko Haram) has eliminated Nigerian soldiers. Commenting on the post’s hoaxes, a Nigerian Rights attorney remarked: “The purpose of the post is to disillusion Nigerians, especially soldiers, to resign from the Army.”
With a verified account of 185,000 followers on X/Twitter, Simon Ekpa radically launches cyber-terrorism, using disinformation as propaganda to degenerate Nigerian authorities on the internet.
Analysing various posts from his X account, this reporter discovered that, spreading false information about Nigerian authorities was proven as an invaluable weapon to promote his agenda.
Between 11 and 18 November 2024, the Autopilot leader shares nothing less than 250 posts on his X account, with an average of 30 posts per day and thousands of reactions being generated.
One of those posts was where he shared a screenshot portion on 16 November 2024. The post captures a news headline published by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR). In the report, the media platform reports how Nigerian soldiers deserted the battlefield and fled to Cameroon. However, investigation shows that Ekpa resurfaced the 2014 ICIR’s report to push for his propaganda narrative.
Similarly, on 18 August 2024, the separatists leader shares a video on his X handle where he claims Nigerian soldiers were captured kidnapping a woman in Biafraland.
A thorough investigation of the claim shows that the gunmen are bandits who dressed up in military uniforms. Similarly, further findings on the post uncovered that the incident happened in Edo (Southwest) Nigeria instead of the Southeast as claimed by the factional leader.
A visit to the comment section of these posts show that Simon Ekpa successfully debased the Nigerian government—the larger group believed the narratives to be true, with only few people doubting the posts’ authenticity.
For example, reacting to the content in the first post, @sohpiaB43328776 says: “Have they fought any battle in there life to answer generals and several names they gave themselves if not the help of British genocide on Biafrans! Does these fools think we can ever forget? Ask them where they have fought before apart from British Nigeria/biafra genocide?” Also, @MArinze2993 comments: “Oginikw?
The Biafra Government is still in exile but these two countries are already giving up. Cameroonian Soldiers are retreating, Nigerian Soldiers are deserting. What will be their fate after the redeclaration of the restoration of Biafra Independence?”
In the second post, @sparrow_unicoin remarks: “OMG! Any Nigerian that is against what my Prime Minister is doing will surely die a miserable death. Amin.” Similarly, @Toney Zoe writes: “We Biafrans should be very grateful to have our Prime Minister Simon Ekpa and Biafra Defence Forces in our hands. May they increase their daily wotowoto promax against our enemies in Biafraland.” Likewise, @joeebonyi notes: “If we only have Simon Ekpa in Benue State, we will be grateful. Igbos must not miss this opportunity.”
“The implications of the online propaganda are enormous, as seen in the further aggravation of the violence their disinformation tactics have led to,” says Habeeb Adisa, the Head of Program and Co-editor at FactCheckAfrica, one of the leading platforms promoting media literacy in Africa.
Mr Adisa, an expert of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) who specializes in combating disinformation, highlights the deliberate spread of misleading contents as not only polarizing opinions but also inciting unrest, therefore leading to the loss of lives and destruction of properties. He adds that these coordinated efforts have manipulated public perception, pushing loyalists to support disorder causes under false pretenses, thereby worsening the already volatile situation.
Monday Sit-at-Home Order: The Impact of BRGIE Online Supports
Away from the bubbles of the internet where lives were trapped with endangerment, the gory propaganda had chronically left the traces of ruins, and economic disadvantages due to the fierce violence and the imposition of constant curfews that grapple with the fate of the residents living in the region.
Being the first working day of the week, Monday—a supposedly reassuring day when markets are full, traders record massive sales and offices open in anticipation of new opportunities, now becomes a former hope of itself as residents of southeast Nigeria enjoy another free day to conclude their weekend.
The pro-Biafran fighters now use every Monday to demand freedom for their anticipating nation, and mark the day to protest against the detention of their former leader Nnamdi Kanu who is facing a criminal trial for plotting a treason against the government of Nigeria.
The armed separatists always frame the curfew as a voluntary exercise that enjoys the command of people. However, the fear of trepidation and guns always keep dwellers inside their home, as nobody is ready to risk his life. For Chinedu Uchenna who survives on selling women’s hairs in Ogbete Main Market, Enugu state, the outcome of Monday curfews is dire on his livelihood.
“The curfew is affecting us in everything; our business, our movement. Things are not going well at all,” Uchenna voice breaks as his struggle is written all over his face while speaking with this reporter in April 2025. “Anytime they mention sit-at-home, things will be very bad. That day will be off for business.”
Cynthia Uju, another victim of the BRGIE curfews who carries a similar burden as Uchenna groans: “There’s this kind of money we normally make on Monday and hardly for us to earn it on other days. But ever since the order of sit-at-home started, our Monday has been taken away from us. And so the benefits of the day.”
Her story represents the struggle of larger communities dwelling under the regime of the Autopilot militants. Despite their rose-colored day being taken away from them, their responsibilities keep soaring as payment of weekly levies were not reduced. Their scar is deep, their agony is uncontainable while their voices seem unheard.
As the day passes, people’s hope of their previous Monday being returned to them continues fading away as the current practice is rooting as a norm, learning how to accommodate the new system in a hard way.
Simon Ekpa Blueprint
On 21 November 2024, Finland authorities were reported to have arrested Simon Ekpa for inciting and promoting terrorism in Southeastern Nigeria. The pro-Biafra agitator was arrested together with other four people who are suspected of financing the terrorist’s activities.
Simon Ekpa’s crime was alleged to have spanned three years, from 23 August 2021 to 18 November 2024.
Despite Simon Ekpa’s detention, the cracks that lead to his arrest, and the new ones create by it are still rippling in the region—loyalists remain relentless in their pursuit for Biafra freedom both online and offline.
One of the active X accounts promoting Biafra liberation is the United States of Biafra Government (USB). With over 45,300 followers, the handle has religiously been used to publicize Biafran internet crowdfunding, implementation of Monday sit-at-home orders, and sharing of hoax contents about the government of Nigeria, among other things.
This account targets sharing of coordinating posts about foreign elements with a shared-common goal. Hence, framing Nigeria as a country that violates human rights, and seeking international attention as well as intervention.
Similarly, among the loyalists who are prominent in pro-Biafra agitation after Ekpa’s arrest is Ngozi Orabueze, the self-acclaimed BRGIE Deputy Minister who assumed leadership of the secessionist organization pending the arrival of their helmsman. Several announcements affecting the operations of the organization were usually shares through her X account.
On 25 November 2024, the so-called BRGIE Chief of Staff posted a single-minute video to her X/Twitter handle @ngoziora. The purported video claims to depict the implementation of the Monday sit-at-home order despite their leader’s detention. Tagging the curfew as a voluntary exercise, the post was shared to calm the atmosphere amidst Ekpa’s arrest, and to assure the redeclaration of the United State of Biafra which was earlier scheduled to hold on 2 December 2024.
Although the majority of the comment section lauds the author’s post as bravery, backlashes from some users suggest the curfew is too far from self-imposed. Such condemnation can be seen here and here.
Maryanne, another dweller of Enugu, narrates how she obeys the imposition of the sit-at-home order due to fear of sanction. While some people go out in defiance of the curfew, Maryanne prefers spending her Monday at home because she worries about assaults, high-handedness and aggression from the lockdown implementers.
Maryanne further mourns how the forcefully enforced order takes tolls on her survival. As someone who depends on daily income, giving up Monday is a big sacrifice that comes with severe consequences on her financing. “The issue of sit-at-home has caused a lot of damage to us. Everybody is always scared to come out on Monday. I don’t sell anything, I don’t make any profit. I only sit at home to take care of my home.”
X/Twitter Looks Away Despite Stern Regulations
Under the Synthetic and Manipulated Media Policy, X prohibits the publication of distorted contents that target to mislead people and lead to harm. The platform further stipulates removal of the contents entirely, reducing its visibility or suspending accounts that repeatedly or severely violates the platform’s policy through its enforcement action.
Similarly, X vows to remove any accounts being managed by perpetrators of terrorism, violent extremists or mass violent attacks. Moreso, any accounts that amplify the perpetrators’ action or dedicated to sharing of such related contents were to suffer the same fate.
However, the social media platform has woefully failed in enforcing the aforementioned policies, as several X accounts like @simon_ekpa, @ngoziora and @USBGovernment have repeatedly post distorted contents, host online meetings and generally promote secession in Nigeria without restriction.
For example, despite Simon Ekpa’s arrest for inciting terrorism in Nigeria since November 2024, his account is not brought down, and his posts are still accessible online.
Likewise, this reporter discovers that X suspended the official account of the self-acclaimed BRGIE Deputy Prime Minister, @ngoziora around February and April 2025 for violating their policy. This prompts her to create another account in February 2025. However, a subsequent visit to the handle shows the suspended account is now active.
Identifying the importance of social media platforms like X as potent tools for reporting and raising awareness, their contribution to the spread of misinformation, and by extension, violence is among the reasons that raises concerns for Mr Adisa.
Hence, he advocates the urgent need for proactive regulations to measure unwarranted activities on these platforms.
However, his question echoes a challenge that remains the dominant discussion among experts: who regulates, and how do we ensure this does not stifle freedom of speech and expression? Because the current efforts by these platforms are insufficient in curbing the surge of distorted narratives.
“What we need is a more collaborative approach, enhancing media literacy across all levels, from government to civil society, and urging the platforms themselves to take more proactive roles in content moderation and public education.”
Increasing Budget, Declining Security
The Security and Defense sector receives the lion share from the 2024 Nigeria annual budget. A total amount of N3.85 trillion representing 13.38-percent of the total budget was approved to fight insecurity ravaging the country—the largest single allocation to any sector. This marks 37.99-percent increments compared to the N2.79 trillion allocated in 2023.
Again, the sector enjoys a similar opportunity in the 2025 federal government proposed appropriation bill. An estimated amount of 6.57 trillion out of 49.74 trillion total budget earmarks to fight insecurity, covering 13.20 percent of the total budget.
The country’s security was expected to improve magically owing to these huge figures. However, things take the other way round as predicted by experts based on the country’s past experiences. Insurrections continue bedeviling the nation, as corruptions, lack of transparency mars the fiscal spendings.
For instance, a 2024 report published by the Transparency International Defence and Security reveals how $8.9 million was syphon by the Nigerian officials into a bank account in Jersey, United States of America (USA). The embezzled funds were originally meant for the procurement of military equipment in a bid to equip the country’s military in its fight against Boko Haram insurgents.
The organization graded Nigeria ‘E’ in its Government Defence Integrity Index, indicating a very high risk of corruption. Moreso, the board says their assessment between 2018 and 2019 shows that Nigeria faces considerable corruption risk across its defense institutions, with extremely limited controls in operations and procurement.
The consequence of the above statistics is daring. Therefore, according to the 2024 Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria records 614,937 deaths due to insecurity between May 2023 and April 2024. Also, Nigerians pay approximately N2.2 trillion as ransom money between the intervals. Southeast Nigeria ranks third as the region where kidnapping incidents are dominant, with 110,432 kidnapping incidents, and more than N85.4 billion being paid as ransom. The secessionists struggle was cited as what jerked the insecurity in the region.
Similarly, on 8 May 2025, nothing less than 30 people were killed while 20 commuter vehicles were burnt during a vicious attack launched against travelers in Imo state along the Okigwe-Owerri road. The perpetrators of this attack were suspected to be IPOB militants—Amnesty International, a right group fighting against human right abuse, confirmed on their X platform.
Commenting on the outcome of the 2024 increased budget in November 2023 when it was presented to the National Assembly, the Managing Director of Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited, Kabir Adamu, notes that Nigerians are yet to become safer or more secure despite the Security sector enjoying the largest allocation in the 2023 budget.
The security expert cited poor accountability and monitoring the performance of the security system as the major causes of the menace.
“In the 2023 budget, security enjoyed the largest allocation and in this current budget that is submitted to the National Assembly, there is almost about 30-percent to 40-percent increase in the provision but unfortunately we have not seen remarkable improvement to equate this attention the government is giving,” Kabir says. “So, what is the challenge? I think it has to do with accountability and monitoring the performance of the security sector,” he concludes.
A security analyst, Senator Iroegbu, explains how President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signs what he termed as “performance bond” with the cabinet members. He notes that the agreement allows the government to checkmate the performance of each government official and hold underperforming individuals accountable. However, Mr Iroegbu identifies corruption as the main reason behind the unyielding results of the increased military spendings.
“Do they have the capacity to actually maximize this budget?” Mr Iroegbu questions. “Then the issue of corruption, how is this money expended? Is it rightly used for what it is supposed to be used for? Then there is the issue of political will and interest of conflict merchants.”
“The Harsh Reality of the BRGIE Online Propaganda”—Expert
During an interview, Nurudeen Akewushola, a researcher and fact-checker working with FactCheckHub, a fact-checking organization established by International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), corroborates the assertion juxtaposed by Mr Adisa. He identifies manipulation of public perception through presentations of false narratives as truth, leading people to unknowingly support harmful or unjust causes, as the serious impacts of deliberate dissemination of disinformation by the BRGIE actors.
With loyalists sharing and amplifying such contents, it fuels division, radicalises followers, and potentially incites violence—especially when the misinformation targets ethnic, political, or national sensitivities.
“In the case of Southeast Nigeria, such coordinated propaganda deepens mistrust and conflict, complicating efforts to achieve peace in the region,” he notes.
Speaking on the nexus between the online propaganda and the militants’ activities being witnessed in Southeast Nigeria, Mr Nurudeen says “The BRGIE leaders’ use of X for crowdfunding and disinformation campaigns have been linked to the ongoing unrest in Southeast Nigeria.”
“Through social media platforms, they have mobilized financial support from sympathizers at home and abroad, which in some instances has allegedly been used to fund separatist activities, including those involving violence.”
Mr Nurudeen who also serves as a senior investigative reporter for ICIR, further mentions the diaspora-driven fundraising structure strengthens the influence and operational capacity of the secessionist group. This challenges national authorities and digital platforms alike to find effective responses. Similarly, it shows the growing role of transnational digital communities in sustaining domestic insurgencies which is a pattern seen in Nigeria and abroad.
“The ease of spreading unverified and often inflammatory messages on social media has allowed BRGIE to rally supporters, enforce sit-at-home orders, and promote anti-government sentiment. These actions have contributed to instability, disruptions of daily life, and clashes with security forces.”
Speaking on the contribution of X/Twitter to the terrorism happening in the Southeast, he says “Simon Ekpa and his supporters have used X to amplify separatist narratives, circulate unverifiable claims despite X policies. But if you check you will still see that this disinformation is still there without being flagged or removed.”
“Their failure to swiftly identify and remove such posts allows distorted information to shape public discourse and sustain false hope among followers. This unchecked flow of propaganda has given them a fertile ground to circulate their separatist ideology freely thereby escalating the violence in the region.”