Simon Ekpa, a Finnish-Nigerian separatist leader who identifies as the Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government In-Exile, has been detained in Finland along with four others on suspicion of involvement in terror-related activities.
A local report states that Ekpa was detained by the Päijät-Häme district court on suspicion of publicly inciting a crime with terrorist intent.
His actions have sparked controversy, especially due to his advocacy for Biafra’s separation from Nigeria.
In a statement released on Thursday, Finland’s Central Criminal Police confirmed the arrests and announced that five individuals are under investigation for terrorism-related crimes.
According to the police, the main suspect was apprehended “on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent,” and four additional individuals were arrested “for financing a terrorist crime.”
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The police stated, “Claims will be heard in Päijät-Häme district court today, November 21.”
The statement says, “The detention requests pertain to the initial investigation involving a Finnish citizen of Nigerian descent, born in the 1980s, who is suspected of publicly inciting others to commit crimes with terrorist intent.”
The police suspect that the man escalated his activities from Finland in a way that has resulted in violence against civilians and authorities, along with other crimes, in South-Eastern Nigeria.
The statement cited Crime Commissioner Otto Hiltunen from the Central Crime Police, who heads the investigation, as saying that “the man has engaged in this activity on his social media channels, among other places.”
Four additional individuals are suspected of funding the activity previously mentioned. All five crime suspects were arrested earlier this week.
The statement added that there has been international cooperation during the preliminary investigation.
