United States Senator Ted Cruz was once linked to discussions with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist group seeking the creation of an independent Biafra nation from Nigeria’s southeast.
Though, the discussion was held with the faction of the rogue movement led by Mr. Simon Ekpa.
IPOB, which was designated a “militant terrorist organization” by the Nigerian government in 2017 due to violence attributed to its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), has faced significant crackdowns.
In 2024, Ogechukwu Nkere, IPOB’s so-called “finance minister,” reportedly met with Cruz to discuss Biafra’s independence efforts.
According to Simon Ekpa, a self-proclaimed Prime Minister of Biafra Government In Exile (who is currently imprisoned in Finland for inciting terrorism), Nkere briefed Cruz on the group’s progress, including a self-referendum and allegations of persecution of Biafrans by the Nigerian government.
Diaspora Digital Media understand that at the meeting, Nkere reportedly presented Cruz with a Biafra charter and roadmap.
Recall that Senator Cruz has been an outspoken advocate for sanctions and potential military action in Nigeria, citing claims of Christian persecution.
Last month, he introduced a bill aimed at holding Nigerian officials accountable for alleged complicity in violence against Christians.
According to TheCable report, much of the data supporting these claims, often cited by groups like the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), was inaccurate.
Intersociety’s founder, Emeka Umeagbalasi, has been a vocal supporter of IPOB and its leader Kanu.
The issue has sparked international debate, with figures like former U.S. President Donald Trump threatening aggressive intervention in Nigeria to protect Christian communities, further complicating the narrative surrounding the country’s security and religious tensions.