The Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland has ordered the remand of self-proclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Simon Ekpa over involvement in terrorist activities
Ekpa, a Lahti-based activist of Nigerian descent has previously been suspected of fundraising activities linked to terrorism.
“The police suspect that Ekpa has used Finland as a base to promote actions that have led to violence against civilians, government authorities, and other crimes in South-Eastern Nigeria. He is believed to have used his social media platforms to further these activities,” said Otto Hiltunen, Crime Commissioner at the Central Criminal Police.
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On Thursday, the District Court of Päijät-Häme issued an order for Simon Ekpa to be detained on probable cause, under suspicion of publicly inciting terrorism.
The police are also seeking the detention of four other individuals, accused of financing terrorism.
Details regarding the specific nature of the suspected crimes have not been disclosed by the police.
According to information from the District Court, Ekpa’s suspected activities took place between 23 August 2021 and 18 November 2024, in Lahti. The four additional suspects are believed to have financed terrorism in Lahti in August 2022. These individuals, who were born in the 1960s or 1970s, also have foreign backgrounds.
All five suspects were detained in the first week of the investigation. The police have confirmed that international cooperation played a role in the preliminary investigation.
In the past, it has been publicly reported that the police have suspected Ekpa of collecting funds for terrorist purposes.
In February 2023, Helsingin Sanomat (HS) reported that Ekpa was arrested at a private residence in Lahti. Ekpa was later released the same evening after questioning.
In February 2023, the police also confirmed receiving multiple reports about Ekpa’s social media activities. This prompted them to investigate whether Ekpa was involved in other criminal activities.
Ekpa is known in Finland for his political involvement with the local coalition party. He has served as a deputy councillor and represented his party on the Lahti Region Public Transport Board.
Ekpa has been a prominent figure of IPOB, which advocates for the independence of Biafra, a region in South-Eastern Nigeria. He has previously used social media to call for boycotts of Nigerian presidential elections and has stated that he is fighting for Biafra’s independence from his base in Lahti.