A factional leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Simon Ekpa, has been detained in Finland together with four other people on suspicion of terror-related actions such as incitement to violence and terrorist financing.
According to local media Yle, Ekpa was remanded in detention by the Päijät-Häme District Court on charges of public incitement to perform a terrorist act.
According to the journal, the Finnish Central Criminal Police confirmed the arrests in a statement on Thursday, adding that the other individuals were seized for allegedly financing terrorist activities.
“The detention demands are related to a preliminary investigation in which a Finnish citizen of Nigerian descent, born in the 1980s, is suspected of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent,” the police said.
Ekpa is suspected of utilising social media platforms to orchestrate violent attacks on residents and officials in Nigeria’s southeast area from Finland.
Detective Chief Inspector Otto Hiltunen, who is leading the investigation, stated, “The man has carried out this activity, among other things, on his social media channels.”
The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation said that Ekpa, along with the other suspects, two of whom live in Helsinki, faces charges of financing terrorism.
This is not Ekpa’s first interaction with Finnish authorities. In 2023, he was briefly detained on charges of fundraising fraud.
Ekpa has also been known for his separatist statements, particularly his threats to disrupt Nigerian elections.
In 2023, he claimed in a widely shared social media video, “No elections will be held!” Nigerian elections will not be permitted in Biafran territory.
Finnish police indicated that international collaboration has been critical to the ongoing investigation, and hearings for the suspects are scheduled for Thursday.
