Simon Ekpa, a Finnish-Nigerian separatist leader and self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile, has been arrested in Finland alongside four others for alleged terrorism-related offenses.
The Päijät-Häme District Court has remanded Ekpa in custody on charges of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent. The Finnish Central Criminal Police confirmed the arrests in a statement released on Thursday, November 21, revealing that the other four suspects were detained for allegedly financing terrorist activities.
According to the police, Ekpa, the main suspect, is accused of promoting violence in South-Eastern Nigeria through his social media channels. Authorities believe his actions have incited violence against civilians and law enforcement in the region.
Crime Commissioner Otto Hiltunen, who is leading the investigation, stated, “The man has carried out this activity, among other things, on his social media channels.”
The police emphasized that the arrests followed an extensive international investigation. “All five suspects of the crime have been arrested during the beginning of the week,” the statement read.
The court hearings for the suspects are ongoing today, November 21, at the Päijät-Häme District Court.
Further details are expected as the investigation progresses.
