Finnish authorities have arrested Simon Ekpa, a prominent pro-Biafran agitator, on charges related to alleged terrorist activities.
The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) confirmed that it had requested Ekpa’s remand on suspicion of public incitement to commit an offense with terrorist intent. Ekpa faces charges alongside four others accused of financing terrorism. This was revealed in a statement issued by the Finnish police on Thursday.
Although the police statement did not explicitly name Ekpa, local news outlet Helsingin Sanomat identified him as one of the suspects. According to the statement, the investigation pertains to a Finnish-Nigerian dual citizen, born in the 1980s, who is suspected of inciting terrorism through public exhortation.
Detective Chief Inspector Otto Hiltunen, Head of Investigation at the NBI, explained that Ekpa allegedly promoted violence against civilians and public authorities in Southeast Nigeria, with his activities seemingly emanating from Finland. This included using social media to spread his campaign.
The other four individuals are believed to have financially supported Ekpa’s alleged terrorism-related activities. All five suspects were apprehended earlier this week, with the investigation having involved international cooperation.
This is not Ekpa’s first arrest in Finland. In February 2023, shortly before Nigeria’s presidential and national assembly elections, he was detained for threatening to disrupt the elections in Southeast Nigeria. Ekpa, who resides in Lahti, Finland, had previously declared that no elections would take place in the region and called for a sit-at-home protest every Monday in support of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
IPOB distanced itself from Ekpa, even though he was reportedly scheduled for an interview just before his arrest. After being released, Ekpa resumed his pro-Biafran activities on social media.
In August 2023, Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen, announced that the Finnish government was taking action against Ekpa, following reports from the Nigerian government about his activities. She confirmed that his case was now in Finnish courts.
Despite a suspension of the sit-at-home order by IPOB’s mainstream leadership, Ekpa, who calls himself the “Prime Minister” of Biafra, has remained a staunch advocate of the directive in Southeast Nigeria.
