Simon Ekpa, the self-acclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been sentenced to prison in Finland. According to local reports, Ekpa, who also declared himself the Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government In-Exile, was remanded in custody by the Päijät-Häme District Court on charges related to public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.
In a statement released on Thursday, Finland’s Central Criminal Police confirmed the arrest of Ekpa along with four other individuals, all suspected of being involved in terrorist activities. Ekpa is accused of promoting violence through his social media platforms, which allegedly led to attacks on civilians, authorities, and other crimes in South-Eastern Nigeria.
The police noted that the main suspect, Ekpa, faces charges for public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent, while the other four individuals are being investigated for financing these activities. All five suspects were arrested earlier this week as part of a coordinated international investigation.
Crime Commissioner Otto Hiltunen of the Central Criminal Police stated, “The man has carried out this activity, among other things, on his social media channels.” The investigation is ongoing, with the suspects scheduled to appear in court for further proceedings.
This is not the first time Ekpa has had run-ins with Finnish authorities. In 2023, he was arrested for illegal fundraising but was released the same day. The latest arrest follows increasing scrutiny of Ekpa’s activities, which have raised concerns about the impact of his actions on Nigeria’s security situation.
