Simon Ekpa, an Igbo separatist leader, has been detained by the Päijät-Häme District Court on probable cause for incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent. The alleged offense took place in Lahti on August 23, 2021.
The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is also seeking the detention of four additional men on terrorism-related charges.
Ekpa, who serves on Lahti’s public transport committee, is known for leading a Nigerian separatist group advocating for the establishment of an independent Biafran state in southeastern Nigeria.
Ekpa is the leader of the Autopilot faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra and Eastern Security Network (IPOB-ESN) which continues to enforce the Monday’s Sit-at-home which are executed with shutdown of educational and other public and private sector offices and businesses, with its attendant killings and kidnappings.
According to the NBI, Ekpa is suspected of leveraging his leadership position in the separatist movement to promote actions resulting in violence against civilians, security forces, and the government in southeastern Nigeria. These activities were reportedly coordinated from Finland, including through social media.
“This activity has been carried out, among other means, via social media channels,” said Detective Chief Inspector Otto Hiltunen in a statement.
The NBI revealed that the investigation focuses on a Finnish citizen of Nigerian descent, born in the 1980s, suspected of publicly inciting crimes with terrorist intent. Additionally, four other individuals are suspected of financing terrorism. All five suspects were apprehended earlier this week.
Among the group, Ekpa resides in the Lahti region, while two others are based in Helsinki. One suspect has no registered address in Finland.
Ekpa has been implicated in criminal activities in the past. In 2023, Finnish police detained him on suspicion of fundraising fraud but released him later the same evening.
Ekpa’s separatist activism has garnered global attention, particularly for 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 social media video.
He has also publicly justified violence, stating, “I support violence against Nigerian government forces. This is self-defense. They constantly attack us and have committed numerous war crimes. We have no choice but to defend ourselves.”
Regarding Ekpa’s political affiliations, NCP Secretary Timo Elo declined to confirm whether Ekpa is a party member, stating, “We never say who is and who isn’t our member. That is confidential information.”
Elo noted, however, that terrorism-related suspicions would likely lead to a member’s expulsion. He added that Ekpa’s role on the public transport commission should be assessed locally.
Written with additional reports from News Central
