Simon Ekpa Arrested in Finland
Simon Ekpa, a Finnish-Nigerian activist and self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile, was recently arrested in Finland alongside four others on suspicion of terrorism-related activities. Ekpa is linked to the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group campaigning for the independence of southeastern Nigeria.
Finnish authorities charged Ekpa with public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent. According to Finland's National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), he allegedly used social media platforms to promote violence and terrorism, which has contributed to unrest in southeastern Nigeria. The four others arrested are suspected of funding his activities.
Ekpa has been a polarizing figure, particularly for enforcing sit-at-home orders in southeastern Nigeria, which have disrupted daily life and led to violence, even after IPOB's mainstream leadership suspended such actions. This isn’t his first legal trouble; he was briefly detained in early 2023 for threatening to disrupt Nigeria's general elections.
The Finnish authorities have underscored that the investigation involved international cooperation, underscoring the broader global impact of his activities.
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