The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced its close monitoring of the legal proceedings involving Simon Ekpa, a Nigerian-Finnish citizen and leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who was arrested in Finland on charges of inciting terrorism and promoting violence.
Ekpa was detained on November 21, 2024, by Finnish authorities, with the Päijät-Häme District Court ruling to hold him in custody on probable cause. Authorities cited his alleged role in inciting violence through social media platforms as the basis for his detention.
In a statement issued on Friday by Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federal Government reiterated its commitment to tracking the case. The statement highlighted the importance of the trial in addressing IPOB’s influence and the role of transnational actors in destabilizing Nigeria’s national security.
The Nigerian government had previously applied diplomatic pressure on Finland to take action against Ekpa, linking his activities to violent incidents in Nigeria’s South-East region.
As the legal process unfolds, the Ministry pledged to provide updates while ensuring that Ekpa’s actions, which have allegedly contributed to unrest in Nigeria, are addressed under Finnish law.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to confirm the arrest of Mr. Simon Njoku Ekpa, a Nigerian-Finnish citizen and prominent leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), by Finnish authorities on Thursday, November 21, 2024,” the statement read.
“He was charged with inciting terrorism and promoting violence. The Finnish District Court of Päijät-Häme ruled to detain him on probable cause for publicly inciting crimes with terrorist intent. The Ministry will continue to monitor the legal proceedings and provide further updates as the case progresses.”
The Federal Government described the development as a critical step in mitigating the impact of IPOB and its global actors on Nigeria’s stability.
