Defending Biafra: Simon Ekpa's Stance Against Genocide and BRGIE's Alignment with Senator Ted Cruz's Bill.
Written By Nnamdi Ikeukwumere
In the volatile landscape of Nigeria's southeast, where ethnic and religious tensions have simmered for decades, Simon Ekpa emerges as a controversial yet resolute figure. During proceedings at Finland's Päijät-Häme District Court and in a sweeping pronouncement both the prosecutor and the defendant agreed that the people and Simon Ekpa Established Biafra Government in Exile distinct from the official Nigeria's administrative structure and political system which has sought to gain independence for the Biafra Region.
Both prosecutor and defendant agree that Simon Ekpa is the Prime Minister of the BRGIE so established. Ekpa reiterated that the Biafra Defense Forces (BDF) as established by the Biafra Region Government in Homeland (BRGH) are guardians of the Biafran people—predominantly Igbo Christians—against what he describes as an ongoing and impending genocide orchestrated by Nigerian state forces and Islamist militias. His stance, though labeled as incitement by Finnish courts, resonates with many who see it as a necessary act of self-defense in the face of unchecked violence.
The Impending Genocide:
A Clear and Present Danger in today’s Nigeria's southeast, the heartland of the Biafran republic, has been plagued by escalating insecurity. Advocacy groups report that over 7,000 Christians were killed nationwide in 2025 alone, with a significant portion occurring in the Igbo-dominated regions due to herder-farmer clashes, Islamist attacks, and state-sponsored repression.
Simon Ekpa has repeatedly framed these incidents as genocidal, pointing to evidence of systematic targeting: mass killings by Fulani militias, enforced disappearances, and the integration of repentant Boko Haram insurgents into the Nigerian military, which he claims perpetuates jihadist agendas in Biafran territories.
In statements, Ekpa warns that without armed resistance, Biafrans face annihilation: “There are evidence of your genocide against Biafra" he tells Nigerian government.
The BDF, under BRGH’s leadership, operates not as aggressors but as a protective force, neutralizing threats from Nigerian army incursions and Fulani herdsmen who have displaced communities and destroyed farmlands.
Critics, including the Nigerian government, dismiss these claims, but independent analyses from sources like Al Jazeera underscore the complex but undeniable role of socioeconomic and religious drivers in the bloodshed.
Supporting BRGIE means recognizing the right to self-defense under international law, particularly when state institutions fail—or actively harm—their citizens. The United Nations Genocide Convention defines genocide as acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group. The patterns in Nigeria's southeast—targeted killings, forced conversions under Sharia enforcement, and land grabs—fit this criterion.
Ekpa's exile in Finland and his broadcasts via platforms like X have amplified these realities, rallying global attention despite legal repercussions.
BRGIE's Role and Support for Senator Ted Cruz's Bill.
The BRGIE, established as a government-in-exile to advocate for Biafran independence, fully backs Ekpa's defensive posture. It views the BDF as essential to halting the "unreported genocide war" in Biafraland, calling for international support against Nigerian terrorism.
This aligns seamlessly with broader calls for accountability, including U.S. legislative efforts. In September 2025, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, a bipartisan bill aimed at designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for religious freedom violations.
The legislation mandates sanctions on Nigerian officials who enable Islamist jihadist violence, enforce blasphemy laws, or facilitate persecution of Christians and other minorities.
Cruz has described the situation as Christians being "targeted and executed," emphasizing the need for real consequences to curb the "killing field" in Nigeria.
BRGIE supports this bill through its advocacy for international recognition of the genocide against Biafrans, who are overwhelmingly Christian. While direct endorsements from Ekpa or BRGIE officials on the bill are emerging in real-time discussions, the organization's recent US congress briefing and repeated calls for global intervention—such as sanctioning Nigeria and recognizing Biafran self-determination—mirror the bill's objectives.
BRGIE has urged world leaders to address the massacres, aligning with Cruz's push to hold Nigerian authorities accountable for complicity in Fulani militia attacks and military abuses in the southeast.
By amplifying reports of over 52,000 Christian deaths and demanding sanctions, BRGIE bolsters the bill's case for CPC designation and targeted penalties.
This support is evident in Biafran activism on platforms like X, where calls for U.S. action intersect with praise for Cruz's initiative as a tool to dismantle Nigeria's "Muslim-Muslim ticket" and protect religious freedoms.
A Call for Global Solidarity
Simon Ekpa's stance is not radicalism but realism in the face of annihilation. By calling for support in arming and organizing the BDF, BRGH upholds the fundamental right to protect one's people when governments turn predatory. The BRGIE's endorsement of measures like Cruz's bill underscores a strategic pivot toward international alliances, urging bodies like the U.S. Congress to act swiftly.
Ignoring this genocide risks repeating history's tragedies, but supporting Ekpa and BRGIE offers a path to justice, self-determination, and peace in West Africa.
As Cruz's bill advances, it represents hope for Biafrans. The world must heed Ekpa's warnings: Defend Biafra now or witness more Christian Genocide.