Finnish police arrest Simon Ekpa over terrorism charges

Finnish-Nigerian separatist leader, Simon Ekpa, has been detained in Finland alongside four others over allegations of terrorism-related activities, including incitement to violence and financing terrorism.

According to Finnish publication Yle, Ekpa was remanded in custody by the Päijät-Häme District Court on charges of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent. 

The Finnish Central Criminal Police confirmed the arrests on Thursday, revealing that the other suspects are accused of 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,” authorities said.

Ekpa, known for his provocative statements, is alleged to have orchestrated violent actions against civilians and authorities in Nigeria’s South-East region. 

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Detective Chief Inspector Otto Hiltunen, who heads the investigation, stated, “The man has carried out this activity, among other things, on his social media channels.”

Two of the suspects reside in Helsinki, and charges against the group include terrorism financing, as confirmed by the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation.

This latest arrest is not Ekpa’s first run-in with Finnish law enforcement. In 2023, he was briefly detained over allegations of fundraising fraud. 

He has also gained popularity for his separatist campaigns, including calls to disrupt Nigerian elections. In one widely circulated 2023 video, he declared, “No elections will be held! Nigerian elections will not be allowed in Biafran territory.”

Finnish police emphasised the importance of international collaboration in advancing the investigation, adding that the hearings for Ekpa and the other suspects are scheduled to take place on Thursday, November 21.

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