Simon Ekpa, a Finnish-Nigerian separatist leader and self-declared Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government In-Exile, has been arrested in Finland, alongside four other individuals, on suspicion of terror-related offenses.
According to local sources, Ekpa was remanded in custody by the Päijät-Häme District Court, facing charges of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.
On Thursday, November 21, the Finnish Central Criminal Police issued a statement confirming the arrest of the five individuals accused of being involved in terrorist activities.
The police reported that Ekpa, identified as the primary suspect, was detained for “public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent,” while the other four individuals were arrested “for financing a terrorist crime.”
The statement further disclosed: “Claims will be heard in Päijät-Häme district court today, November 21.”
The investigation focuses on “a Finnish citizen of Nigerian descent, born in the 1980s, suspected of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.” Authorities suspect that Ekpa has been promoting actions from Finland, which have led to violence against both civilians and authorities, as well as other crimes in the South-Eastern region of Nigeria.
Crime Commissioner Otto Hiltunen, who is leading the investigation, commented: “The man has carried out this activity, among other things, on his social media channels.”
The four individuals detained are accused of financing the terrorist activities under investigation. “All five suspects of the crime have been arrested during the beginning of the week,” the police statement confirmed, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in the preliminary investigation.
