The Federal Government has confirmed the arrest of a Nigerian-Finnish citizen and leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Simon Ekpa, in Finland on charges of terrorism and inciting violence.
In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, acting spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, confirmed Ekpa’s arrest and the charges against him.
“The ministry wishes to confirm the arrest of Ekpa, a Nigerian-Finnish citizen and prominent leader of the proscribed IPOB, by Finnish authorities on Thursday, Nov. 21. He was charged with inciting terrorism and promoting violence,” Ebienfa said.
The Finnish District Court of Päijät-Häme detained Ekpa on probable cause, accusing him of publicly inciting crimes with terrorist intent. Finnish authorities alleged that Ekpa used social media platforms to disseminate separatist propaganda, incite violence, and encourage illegal actions, leading to significant disruptions in Nigeria’s southeast.
Investigators in Finland also linked Ekpa’s activities to violent incidents in Nigeria, asserting that his online actions were a key factor in escalating tensions in the region.
Ekpa, a Finnish politician and Biafran political activist, reportedly declared the activation of a Biafran government in exile in 2022 and proclaimed himself leader in 2023 while living abroad.
The ministry highlighted that Ekpa’s arrest followed sustained diplomatic pressure from the Nigerian government on Finland to address his alleged role in instigating violence and instability in Nigeria’s southeast. These concerns were raised during high-level engagements between both nations.
“This arrest is a significant development in tackling the activities of IPOB and neutralising the influence of transnational actors and their impact on national security,” the statement added.
The ministry assured the public that it would continue to monitor the legal proceedings in Finland and provide updates as the case unfolds.