Finnish-Nigerian Separatist Leader, Simon Ekpa Arrested Over Terrorism Charges
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
Finnish-Nigerian separatist leader, Simon Ekpa, has been arrested in Finland on suspicion of terror-related activities, including incitement to violence and terrorism financing.
According to local publication Yle, the Finnish Central Criminal Police confirmed the arrests in a statement on Thursday.
Ekpa, alongside four others was remanded in custody by the Päijät-Häme District Court on charges of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.
“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 police said.
Finnish police say Ekpa’s activities and social media rhetoric may have fanned the flames of violence in the south-east of Nigeria.
“He carries out these activities from his social media channels, for example,” said Otto Hiltunen, detective chief inspector of the NBI.
Simon Ekpa describes himself as the Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in-Exile (BRGIE).
