Finland Authorities Arrest Simon Ekpa, 4 Others On Suspicion of Terror Activities

Simon Ekpa, who describes himself as the Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in-Exile (BRGIE), has been arrested and detained in Finland on charges of alleged terrorist activities.

Local news sources in Finland report that the District Court of Päijät-Häme has sent Ekpa, a Lahti-based Nigerian municipal politician, to prison on probable cause and suspicion of publicly inciting people to commit crimes with terrorist intent.

The court claims that Simon Ekpa has been spreading separatist propaganda on social media.

The alleged crime occurred on August 23, 2021, in Lahti.

The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is also seeking the detention of four additional men on terrorism-related charges.

Ekpa, who has represented Finland's National Coalition Party (NCP) in local roles, currently serves on Lahti's public transport committee. He is also known for leading a separatist group in Nigeria advocating for the establishment of an independent Biafran state in the country's southeast.

Ekpa, a Finnish-Nigerian separatist leader, is under scrutiny for allegedly using his position to incite violence against civilians and authorities in southeastern Nigeria. 

Authorities believe he coordinated these efforts from Finland, leveraging his social media channels to promote harmful activities. As the self-proclaimed "Prime Minister" of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile, Ekpa's actions have sparked concerns about his role in fueling unrest in the region.

"This activity has been carried out, among other means, via social media channels," said Detective Chief Inspector Otto Hiltunen in a statement.

The NBI stated that its investigation focuses on a Finnish citizen of Nigerian descent, born in the 1980s, suspected of publicly inciting crimes with terrorist intent. The police also suspect four other individuals of financing terrorism. All five were apprehended earlier this week.

Among the suspects, Ekpa resides in the Lahti region, while two others have addresses in Helsinki. One suspect has no registered address in Finland.

Ekpa has previously been implicated in criminal activities. In 2023, Finnish police detained him on suspicion of fundraising fraud but released him later the same evening.

Ekpa's separatist activism has drawn global attention, particularly his calls to boycott Nigerian elections.

"No elections will be held! Nigerian elections will not be allowed in Biafran territory in 2023," he declared in a video on social media.

Ekpa has also publicly justified the use of violence.

"I support violence against Nigerian government forces. This is self-defence. They constantly attack us and have committed numerous war crimes. We have no choice but to defend ourselves," he stated.

​​NCP Secretary Timo Elo declined to comment on Ekpa's possible membership of the party.

"We never say who is and who isn't our member. That is confidential information," Elo told Yle.

Elo did however say that if a member of the party was suspected of terrorism offences, that would likely lead to their expulsion.

According to Elo, Ekpa's role on the public transport commission, for example, should be assessed locally.