The Nigerian government confirmed on Friday the arrest of Simon Ekpa, the self-styled Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile, by Finnish authorities.
GistReel reports that Simon Ekpa’s arrest came on the heels of persistent diplomatic pressure from Nigeria urging Finland to take action against Ekpa’s activities.
Ekpa, a Nigerian-Finnish citizen and prominent figure in the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was detained on Thursday, along with four others, on suspicion of engaging in terrorist activities.
The Finnish District Court of Päijät-Häme has remanded him in custody based on probable cause, citing his alleged involvement in inciting violence via social media platforms.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ekpa’s arrest follows his reported use of social media to spread separatist propaganda and incite violence, which is believed to have contributed to instability in Nigeria’s southeastern region.
The Ministry’s acting spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, explained in a statement that Ekpa faces charges of terrorism and promoting violence.
The government further emphasized that the arrest was the result of sustained diplomatic efforts aimed at curbing the destabilizing influence of Ekpa and IPOB, with the Ministry pledging to closely monitor the legal proceedings as they unfold.
Ekpa, who declared the formation of a Biafran government-in-exile in 2022 and assumed leadership of the faction the following year, has been accused of exacerbating violence in Nigeria through his online rhetoric.
The Ministry described his arrest as a significant step in addressing the activities of IPOB and reducing the impact of transnational actors on national security.
The ministry’s statement read: “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. The Finnish District Court of Päijät-Häme ruled to detain him on probable cause for publicly inciting crimes with terrorist intent.
“The Finnish authorities alleged that Ekpa used social media platforms to spread separatist propaganda, incite violence, and encourage illegal actions, which had caused significant disruptions in the southeast of Nigeria.
“Finnish investigators had also linked him to incidents of violence in Nigeria, which were believed to have been fuelled by his online activities.
“The arrest of Ekpa follows sustained diplomatic pressure by the Nigerian government on Finland to take action against his activities, linked to violence and instability in the southeast of Nigeria.
“The ministry will continue to monitor the legal proceedings and provide further updates as the case progresses.”
The government will continue to provide updates as the legal process progresses, further underlining its commitment to combatting terrorism and ensuring the stability of the nation.
