Finnish-Nigerian separatist leader Simon Ekpa, along with four others, has been arrested in Finland on charges linked to terrorist activities.
Mr Ekpa, the self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile, was remanded by the Päijät-Häme District Court on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent, according to Finnish media reports.
In a statement released on Thursday, Finland’s Central Criminal Police confirmed the arrests of five individuals for terror-related crimes. Ekpa is accused of using social media to incite violence against civilians and authorities in southeastern Nigeria.
This comes after Nigerian authorities petitioned the Finnish government to arrest Ekpa.
The statement reads, “The detention demands are related to the preliminary investigation, in which a Finnish citizen of Nigerian background, born in the 1980s, is suspected of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.
“The police suspect that the man has promoted his efforts from Finland by means that have led to violence against civilians and authorities as well as other crimes in the region of South-Eastern Nigeria.”
The police stated that the four additional suspects were arrested for financing the alleged terrorist activities.
The case involves international collaboration and court hearings for the suspects are scheduled for November 21.
Crime commissioner Otto Hiltunen noted that the main suspect, a Finnish citizen of Nigerian descent born in the 1980s, has promoted activities resulting in violence and other crimes. Further investigations are ongoing.
Ekpa was first arrested in Finland in February 2023. He was later released.
