Simon Ekpa, four others arrested in Finland over Terrorism, Violence in Nigeria

The self-declared Prime Minister of Biafra Republic Government In-Exile, was remanded in custody by the district court of Päijät-Häme on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.

He was arrested “on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent”, while four others were arrested “for financing a terrorist crime”.

A statement by the central criminal police in Finland read; “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 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”.

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.