Editor
SIMON Ekpa, leader of the banned militant group Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been detained in Finland alongside four others on terrorism-related charges.
The District Court of Päijät-Häme ordered Ekpa’s detention on probable cause, accusing him of inciting criminal activities with terrorist intent. Local reports indicate that the suspected offense occurred in Lahti on August 23, 2021, where Ekpa allegedly disseminated separatist propaganda through social media.
The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) also detained four other men on suspicion of terrorist offenses. Authorities suspect that Ekpa’s activities in Finland have fueled violence and other crimes in southeastern Nigeria. Detective Chief Inspector Otto Hiltunen stated, “Ekpa carries out these activities through his social media channels.”
Ekpa, a Nigerian-born Finnish citizen, has openly identified himself as the leader of IPOB, a separatist group seeking the creation of an independent Biafran state in southeastern Nigeria. His calls for boycotting Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, paired with endorsements of violence, have drawn international scrutiny. In one video filmed from his kitchen in Lahti, Ekpa declared:
> “I support violence against Nigerian government forces. It’s a matter of self-defense. They are always attacking us and have committed numerous war crimes. We are forced to defend ourselves.”
The video, shared on X (formerly Twitter), amassed approximately 800,000 views.
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Finnish authorities revealed that the arrests stem from a pre-trial investigation into Ekpa’s suspected public incitement to commit terrorism and the financing of terrorist activities. While Ekpa resides in Lahti, two other suspects were detained in Helsinki, and one has no registered address in Finland.
The NBI highlighted the role of international cooperation in advancing the criminal investigation, which continues to unfold.
