Nigerian separatist leader of IPOB , Simon Ekpa, has been arrested in Finland along with four others for suspected terror-related activities, including incitement to violence and terrorism financing.
According to Finnish media outlet Yle, Simon Ekpa was remanded by the Päijät-Häme District Court on charges of incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent. Finnish police confirmed the arrests on Thursday, revealing that the other suspects, two of whom live in Helsinki, are accused of financing 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 Finnish Central Criminal Police stated.
Simon Ekpa, known for his separatist activities, is accused of coordinating violent actions in Nigeria’s South-East region from Finland, using social media to further his agenda. Detective Chief Inspector Otto Hiltunen, leading the investigation, said, “The man has carried out this activity, among other things, on his social media channels.”
Simon Ekpa has previously called for disruptions during Nigerian elections. In 2023, he declared in a social media video, “No elections will be held! Nigerian elections will not be allowed in Biafran territory.”
