FG Says Sustained Diplomatic Pressure Led To Arrest Of Simon Ekpa In Finland

By Ayodele Oni

The Federal Government has shed light on the arrest of Simon Ekpa, an estranged member of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, (IPOB) by the FinnishPolice on Thursday. The FG said his arrest followed sustained diplomatic pressure by the Nigerian government on Finland to take action against his activities, linked to violence and instability in the South-East of Nigeria.

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Interior explained that the request for action featured during high-level engagements between the two countries.

This was disclosed in a statement by Kimiebi Ebienfa, the Acting Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Friday in Abuja while confirming the arrest of Mr Simon Ekpa, a Nigerian-Finnish citizen and violent agitator for the separation of the South East  Region from Nigeria.

He said that Ekpa was arrested on charges of inciting terrorism and promoting violence.

Ekpa, a Finnish politician and Biafran political activist, was reported to have in 2022 declared activation of Republic of Biafra in exile and himself, Prime Minister of the Government in Exile in 2023.

“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 South-East of Nigeria.

“Finnish investigators had also linked him to incidents of violence in Nigeria, which were believed to have been fueled 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 South-East of Nigeria.”

The statement described  Ekpa’s arrest as a significant development in tackling the activities of IPOB and neutralising the influence of transnational actors, and their impact on national security.

He added: “The ministry will continue to monitor the legal proceedings and provide further updates as the case progresses.”