A prominent figure associated with the popular Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Simon Ekpa, has been arrested in Finland.
Ekpa was arrested for allegedly involved in terror-related activities.
The Finnish police detained Ekpa along with four others, citing suspicions of inciting crimes with terrorist intent via separatist propaganda on social media.
Authorities in Finland disclosed that Ekpa, who holds Finnish citizenship and serves as a local politician, had been using his online platforms to promote violence in southeastern Nigeria.
“The investigation into these activities spans back to August 2021 and involves potential financial links to terrorism,”
Recall that Ekpa has openly led campaigns for Biafra’s independence, often accompanied by controversial directives.
One of these incidents is his advocacy for a “sit-at-home” order in Nigeria’s southeast, intended to protest the detention of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.
Meanwhile, this protest has been linked to widespread violence, including destruction of lives and property.
Ekpa had also declared in February 2023 that elections would not hold in the region, framing violence as a necessary means of “self-defense”.
Report has it that this arrest follows repeated calls from the Nigerian government for international cooperation in addressing Ekpa’s activities.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had noted earlier in response to Ekpa’s incendiary comments that the Ministry expect stronger collaboration from Finland to ensure this escalating threat is curtailed.
While Finnish authorities emphasized the presumption of innocence, they confirmed that investigations are ongoing and may take significant time to conclude.
Ekpa was reportedly questioned and later released, though he remains under close scrutiny.
The case underscores growing efforts to counter cross-border terrorism, with Finnish police reiterating their commitment to addressing crimes that affect international stability.
Who is Simon Ekpa?
39-year-old Simon Ekpa is a Finnish-Nigerian lawyer, politician, and Biafran political activist.
He is known for his role in advocating for the independence of Biafra, a region in southeastern Nigeria, through often controversial and inflammatory rhetoric.
Ekpa became prominent in 2019 when he joined the Biafra independence movement.
Moreover, his media attention grew in 2019 after a video he posted claiming that Nigerian soldiers had been killed by Boko Haram, a move that was believed to be aimed at disillusioning Nigerian soldiers, urging them to resign from the military.
In July 2021, Ekpa became the lead broadcaster for Radio Biafra, affiliated with the separatist organization IPOB, following the arrest of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.
However, his tenure was short-lived, as he was dismissed for violating IPOB’s rules.
Subsequently, Ekpa was accused by IPOB of engaging in illegal activities, and in 2022, he declared the formation of his own faction, calling it “Autopilot.”
Ekpa’s activism took a more radical turn in 2022, when he announced the ‘full activation’ of the Biafra Government in Exile (BGIE), claiming that the Biafran movement was now under his leadership.
He declared himself the Prime Minister of BRGIE in 2023, which further escalated his role as a key figure in the Biafran separatist cause.
The Nigerian government has consistently accused Ekpa of promoting violence, with reports of enforced ‘sit-at-home’ orders, some of which have been carried out by armed groups loyal to him.
He has also been linked to the creation of the Biafra Liberation Army (BLA), a militant group fighting for Biafran secession, and claims to control the Eastern Security Network, IPOB’s armed wing.
In 2023, he continued Kanu’s sit-at-home orders and issued threats regarding Nigeria’s oil exploitation in the region.
Despite widespread condemnation, Ekpa maintains that his actions represent the will of the Biafran people.
Ekpa has also sparked controversy by holding online referendums on Biafran sovereignty, which he claims have gathered millions of votes in favor of an independent Biafra.
He announced plans for an official declaration of Biafran independence in late 2024.
The Nigerian government has labeled Ekpa a terrorist and demanded his extradition from Finland, where he resides.
He has been accused of inciting violence and promoting hatred and his activities have drawn mixed responses, with Nigerian officials calling for diplomatic efforts to have him arrested, while some Biafran supporters view him as a leader of their struggle.
Simon Ekpa holds Finnish citizenship and has served as a municipal politician in Lahti, Finland, where his political activities, including his pro-Biafra stance, have drawn attention.
