Abuja (Core Reporters) The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa has expressed excitement over the arrest of Simon Ekpa, an acclaimed factional leader of the proscribed Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB).
This was sequel to a report that the Finland Authorities has announced arrested Ekpa on suspicion of terror activities
Brig Gen Tukur Gusau, Director Defence Information said, “CDS is happy with his arrest in Finland, with the hope this will be a step towards his extradition to Nigeria so that he will face justice.”
Ekpa was arrested and faced a local court in the Finland. The court claims that Simon Ekpa has been spreading separatist propaganda on social media.
However, Local news sources in Finland report that the District Court of Päijät-Häme has sent Ekpa, a Lahti-based Nigerian municipal politician, to prison on probable cause and suspicion of publicly inciting people to commit crimes with terrorist intent.
Recall that the CDS Gen. Christopher Musa in 2023 warned that Simon Ekpa, factional leader of the proscribed Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), is a menace to Nigeria.
Ekpa, a self-proclaimed follower of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB, has consistently called for a sit-at-home in the south-east geopolitical zone.
The sit-at-home order is often forcefully enforced by Ekpa’s disciples, despite IPOB’s repeated disavowal of the directive.
However, Gen. Musa noted that Ekpa’s actions have led to the loss of many lives while his “utterances” have caused significant harm to the country.
Meanwhile, the court in Finland claimed that Simon Ekpa has been spreading separatist propaganda on social media.
The alleged crime occurred on August 23, 2021, in Lahti.
The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is also seeking the detention of four additional men on terrorism-related charges.
Ekpa, who has represented Finland’s National Coalition Party (NCP) in local roles, currently serves on Lahti’s public transport committee. He is also known for leading a separatist group in Nigeria advocating for the establishment of an independent Biafran state in the country’s southeast.
Ekpa, a Finnish-Nigerian separatist leader, is under scrutiny for allegedly using his position to incite violence against civilians and authorities in southeastern Nigeria.
Authorities believe he coordinated these efforts from Finland, leveraging his social media channels to promote harmful activities. As the self-proclaimed “Prime Minister” of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile, Ekpa’s actions have sparked concerns about his role in fueling unrest in the region.
“This activity has been carried out, among other means, via social media channels,” said Detective Chief Inspector Otto Hiltunen in a statement.
The NBI stated that its investigation focuses on a Finnish citizen of Nigerian descent, born in the 1980s, suspected of publicly inciting crimes with terrorist intent. The police also suspect four other individuals of financing terrorism. All five were apprehended earlier this week.
Among the suspects, Ekpa resides in the Lahti region, while two others have addresses in Helsinki. One suspect has no registered address in Finland.
Ekpa has previously been implicated in criminal activities. In 2023, Finnish police detained him on suspicion of fundraising fraud but released him later the same evening.
Ekpa’s separatist activism has drawn global attention, particularly his calls to boycott Nigerian elections.
“No elections will be held! Nigerian elections will not be allowed in Biafran territory in 2023,” he declared in a video on social media.
