Biafran separatist leader Simon Ekpa arrested and remanded in Finnish custody for planning and co-ordinating terror attacks in South East Nigeria Abuja to seek extradition
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, said he hoped that with the arrest of Biafran separatist Simon Ekpa in Finland Thursday, the Finnish Government would extradite him to Nigeria to face justice.
According to a local Finnish publication, Ekpa was charged alongside four others on suspicion of terror-related activities, including incitement to violence and terrorism financing.
The publication reported that the Finnish Central Criminal Police confirmed the arrests in a statement on Thursday, noting that the other suspects were apprehended for allegedly financing terrorist activities.
According to the police, the detention demands are related to the preliminary investigation, “in which a Finnish citizen of Nigerian background born in 1985 is suspected of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.”
“The man has carried out this activity, among other things, on his social media channels.” says Crime Commissioner Otto Hiltunen in a press release from the Central Criminal Police.
Among the suspects, Ekpa lives in Lahti. Of the other suspects, two have addresses in Helsinki, and one cannot be found in the population database. International cooperation was sough during the preliminary investigation.
Ekpa has been arrested on suspicion of a crime at least once before. In 2023, the Central Criminal Police suspected him of the crime of collecting money.
Finnish police say in his separatist agitation, he called for the boycott of the 2023 election his his home region the south east of Nigeria. In one social media video,
“I accept violence against Nigerian government forces. It’s about self-defense. They are constantly attacking us and have committed numerous war crimes. We have to defend ourselves.” He told a Finnish outlet.
On Monday, his separatist group the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB) a proscribed terrorist group in Nigeria carried out a deadly attack in three communities in Anambra State in the South East region.
At least five persons were reported dead in the attacks which happened in Abatete , Abagana and Ukpo communities.
Also, vehicles were set ablaze by the attackers who repeatedly warned people to respect the sit at home order.
The attacks happened between 8am and 10am, when the casualties were mainly men of the Anambra Vigilante Group (AVG).
Ekpa attended Thursday’s hearing by video link from the custody suite of the Finnish Police. He has not been convicted, but he is only suspected of a crime. The preliminary investigation and legal process in the case can take years according to the local outlet.
Akowe with reports from Lagos