- Safiu Kehinde
Self-acclaimed Biafran Prime Minister, Simon Ekpa has been arrested alongside four others over alleged sponsor of terrorism and civil unrest in Southeast Nigeria.
This was confirmed in a statement issued by the Central Criminal Police in Finland.
As contained in the statement, Ekpa was alleged to be promoting terrorist activities and public incitement to commit crimes in Nigeria.
“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 statement partly read.
The statement further quoted the head of the investigation, Crime Commissioner Otto Hiltunen from the Central Crime Police as saying that “the man has carried out this activity, among other things, on his social media channels”.
According to reports, Ekpa is a known figure in Finland as he sits who resides in the Lahti region and is member of the National Coalition Party (NCP). He also serves on Lahti’s public transport committee. His arrest is coming a few days after several deadly attacks were carried out in the South-East by suspected members of the Eastern Security Network/IPOB, which he controls.
His arrest was also confirmed by Human Rights activist and lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, in a post on his X handle on Thursday.