Police Arrest Factional IPOB Leader, Simon Ekpa In Finland
Simon Ekpa, a Finnish-Nigerian separatist leader, and four other people have been arrested in Finland on suspicion of engaging in acts related to terrorism, such as inciting violence and financing terrorism.
The Päijät-Häme District Court remanded Ekpa in custody on charges of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent, according to the local newspaper Yle.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Finnish Central Criminal Police confirmed the arrests, according to the publication, adding that the other suspects had been detained on suspicion of funding terrorism.
“The detention demands are related to a preliminary investigation in which a Finnish citizen of Nigerian descent, born in the 1980s, is suspected of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent,” the police said.
Ekpa is charged with using social media to further his agenda and organizing violent acts against authorities and civilians in the South-East region of Nigeria from Finland.
The Detective Chief identified as Inspector Otto Hiltunen, who leads the investigation, said, “The man has carried out this activity, among other things, on his social media channels.”
Didactic Information Hut recalls that Simon Ekpa had in 2023 declared in a widely circulated social media video, “No elections will be held! Nigerian elections will not be allowed in Biafran territory.”
Ekpa and the other suspects, two of whom live in Helsinki, are accused of financing terrorism, according to the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation.
Ekpa has had previous run-ins with Finnish authorities. He was briefly arrested in 2023 on charges of fundraising fraud.
Ekpa’s separatist rhetoric, especially his calls to sabotage Nigerian elections, has also brought him notoriety.
Hearings for the suspects are set for Thursday, and Finnish police said that international cooperation has been essential to the ongoing investigation.
