Foreign Affairs Ministry Hails Arrest of IPOB Leader Simon Ekpa in Finland

Foreign Affairs Ministry Hails Arrest of IPOB Leader Simon Ekpa in Finland

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

In a landmark development in the fight against terrorism and separatist movements, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has lauded the arrest of Mr. Simon Njoku Ekpa, a prominent Nigerian-Finnish national, by Finnish authorities. 

Ekpa, identified as a key leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was taken into custody on Thursday, November 21, 2024, on charges of inciting terrorism and promoting violence.

This was disclosed in a statement signed on Friday, by the Acting Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa.

According to Kimiebi, “The Finnish District Court of Päijät-Häme has ruled to detain Mr. Ekpa on probable cause for publicly inciting crimes with terrorist intent. This arrest is a significant step towards addressing the activities of IPOB and neutralizing the influence of transnational actors that threaten our national security.”

The Ministry highlighted that Ekpa allegedly used various social media platforms to disseminate separatist propaganda, incite violence, and encourage illegal actions, contributing to serious disruptions in Nigeria’s southeastern region. 

Finnish investigators have reportedly established connections between Ekpa’s online activities and violent incidents in Nigeria.

The Spokesperson added that the arrest came after prolonged diplomatic negotiations between the Nigerian government and Finland.

“The arrest of Mr. Simon Njoku Ekpa follows sustained diplomatic pressure by the Nigerian government on Finland, to take action against his activities, which were linked to violence and instability in the South-East of Nigeria. The request for action featured during high level engagements between countries,” he said.

As the legal proceedings begin in Finland, the Nigerian government has pledged to closely monitor the developments in the case.

 “We will provide further updates as the situation progresses and ensure that justice is served,” concluded Kimiebi.