FINLAND: Simon Ekpa, a Finnish-Nigerian separatist leader, has been arrested in Finland along with four others on suspicion of involvement in terror-related activities, including incitement to violence and terrorism financing.
Local news outlet Yle reported that Simon Ekpa was remanded in custody by the Päijät-Häme District Court, facing charges of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent. According to a statement from the Finnish Central Criminal Police, the other suspects were arrested for allegedly financing terrorist operations.
The police explained that the detention orders were issued following a preliminary investigation involving a Finnish citizen of Nigerian descent, born in the 1980s, suspected of using social media to incite terrorism-related crimes.
Ekpa is accused of orchestrating violent actions in Nigeria’s South East region while residing in Finland, using online platforms to promote his separatist agenda.
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Detective Chief Inspector Otto Hiltunen, who is overseeing the investigation, confirmed that Ekpa’s activities were primarily conducted through his social media channels. The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation added that two of the other suspects reside in Helsinki and are also facing charges of financing terrorism.
This is not Ekpa’s first run-in with Finnish authorities. In 2023, he was briefly detained on charges of fundraising fraud. Ekpa is also known for his vocal separatist views, particularly his efforts to disrupt Nigerian elections. In a widely circulated video from 2023, he declared, no elections will be held! Nigerian elections will not be allowed in Biafran territory.
Finnish police emphasized the importance of international cooperation in the ongoing investigation, with hearings for the suspects scheduled for Thursday
