Simon Ekpa, a Finnish-Nigerian separatist and self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile, has been arrested in Finland alongside four others on terrorism-related charges.
The Päijät-Häme District Court remanded Ekpa on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent, according to local Finnish reports.
Authorities allege that Ekpa used social media to promote activities that led to violence against civilians and government officials in southeastern Nigeria.
Finland’s Central Criminal Police announced in a statement on Thursday that the arrests included four additional suspects accused of financing the alleged terrorist activities.
The statement reads, “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 suspects were apprehended earlier this week, and their cases were heard in court on November 21.
Crime Commissioner Otto Hiltunen, leading the investigation, revealed that Ekpa, born in the 1980s and a Finnish citizen of Nigerian origin, is suspected of orchestrating the violence from Finland.
The investigation, which involved international cooperation, remains ongoing.
