The engine of crisis in the Eastern part of Nigeria and the self-acclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been said to have been arrested on Thursday, by Finnish authorities.
It was gathered that the district court of Päijät-Häme subsequently ordered his imprisonment for allegedly spreading terrorist propaganda on social media.
According to reports, the alleged offence was committed in 2021 in Lahti municipality, Finland.
The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) confirmed the arrest, adding that four other men were also detained in connection with suspected terrorist offences.
Ekpa, a Finnish citizen of Nigerian origin, had been accused of using social media to incite violence and unrest in southeastern Nigeria, particularly through his advocacy for the secession of Biafra from Nigeria ¹ ² ³.
The arrest was made after an investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Finland, which revealed that Ekpa’s actions had directly contributed to crimes in the region ¹. Four other individuals were also detained in connection with the investigation, which focused on a network suspected of financing terrorism ¹ ².
Reports have it that Ekpa’s activism started gaining attention in 2019 when he became the lead broadcaster for Radio Biafra, associated with the separatist organisation Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Following Ekpa’s Modus Operandi, IPOB accused him of illegal activities, describing the group as a peaceful organisation.
However, the Nigerian government had previously demanded Ekpa’s extradition, accusing him of destabilising the Southeast region. Ekpa’s arrest highlights international law enforcement cooperation against terrorism and its funding networks.
