Finnish authorities arrest Simon Ekpa over terrorism charges

Finnish-Nigerian separatist leader Simon Ekpa has actually been arrested in Finland alongside 4 others on suspicion of terror-related activities, including incitement to violence and terrorism financing.

According to local publication Yle, Ekpa was remanded in custody by the Päijät-Häme District Court on charges of public incitement to devote a criminal activity with terrorist intent.

The publication reported that the Finnish Central Criminal Police verified the arrests in a declaration on Thursday, noting that the other suspects were captured for presumably financing terrorist activities.

"The detention demands are related to an initial examination in which a Finnish citizen of Nigerian descent, born in the 1980s, is presumed of public incitement to dedicate a crime with terrorist intent," the authorities said.

Ekpa is implicated of coordinating violent actions versus civilians and authorities in Nigeria's South-East region from Finland, using social networks platforms to enhance his agenda.

Detective Chief Inspector Otto Hiltunen, who leads the investigation, exposed, "The male has carried out this activity, among other things, on his social networks channels."

The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation divulged that Ekpa, along with the other suspects, two of whom live in Helsinki, faces charges of financing terrorism.

This is not Ekpa's first encounter with Finnish authorities. In 2023, he was quickly detained on allegations of fundraising scams.

Ekpa has actually likewise gotten prestige for his separatist rhetoric, especially his calls to disrupt Nigerian elections.

In 2023, he declared in a commonly distributed social media video, "No elections will be held! Nigerian elections will not be allowed in Biafran area."

Finnish police stated that global cooperation has actually been crucial to the examination. The suspects' hearings are arranged for Thursday.

Arrest, detention of Simon Ekpa good news-- Fani-Kayode

Former Aviation minister and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Femi Fani-Kayode, has actually explained the arrest and detention of Simon Ekpa, a Biafra agitator, as good news.

DAILY POST earlier reported that the self-acclaimed Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government In-Exile was arrested and apprehended by the Finnish authorities over terror-related criminal offenses.

Responding, FFK, in a post on his official X deal with, said the arrest was a welcome development, lamenting that the separatist obtains "satisfaction from eliminating and abusing" individuals of the South-East.

He wrote, "The arrest and detention of one Simon Ekpa by the Finnish authorities for terrorism-related charges and inciting terrorism in Nigeria is good news.

"Not just is this misdirected boy a feral psychopath, a hate-filled sociopath, a notorious coward and a guy of blood, however he is likewise a religious bigot, an unrepentant racist, an ethnic supremacist and an enemy of humanity.

"He derived pleasure from eliminating and torturing our people, and he waged war on our country from the security of Finland.

"Many innocent Nigerians were eliminated on his orders and as a consequence of his nasty and dissentious rhetoric.

"I hope this serves as a lesson to others in our nation who believe that division, violence and terror are the only way forward and who have no respect for the sanctity of human life."