Finnish court detains Biafran separatist leader on suspicion of terrorism | Yle News

Simon Ekpa sits on Lahti’s public transport committee as a member of the National Coalition party and has become a figurehead for a separatist movement in Nigeria.

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Simon Ekpaa Finnish-Nigerian municipal politician, has been detained by the Päijät-Häme District Court on probable cause for incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent. The alleged offense took place in Lahti on 23 August 2021.

Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is also seeking the detention of four additional men on terror-related charges.

Ekpa, who has represented Finland’s National Coalition Party (NCP) in local roles, currently serves on Lahti’s public transport committee. He is also known for leading a separatist group in Nigeria that advocates the establishment of an independent Biafran state in the country’s southeast.

According to the NBI, Ekpa is suspected of using his leadership position in a Nigerian separatist group to promote actions that have led to violence against civilians and authorities in southeastern Nigeria. These efforts are believed to have been coordinated from Finland, including through Ekpa’s social media channels.

“This activity has been carried out through social media channels, among others,” said Detective Inspector Otto Hiltunen in a statement.

The NBI said its investigation focuses on a Finnish citizen of Nigerian descent, born in the 1980s, suspected of publicly inciting crimes with terrorist intent. The police also suspect four other people of financing terrorism. All five were arrested earlier this week.

Among the suspects, Ekpa lives in the Lahti region, while two others have addresses in Helsinki. A suspect has no registered address in Finland.

History of controversy

Ekpa has previously been involved in criminal activities. In 2023, Finnish police detained him on suspicion of fundraising fraud, but released him later that evening.

Ekpa’s separatist activism has attracted global attention, particularly his calls to boycott Nigerian elections.

“There will be no elections! Nigerian elections will not be allowed in Biafran territory in 2023,” he declared in a video on social media.

Ekpa has also publicly justified the use of violence.

“I support violence against Nigerian government forces. This is self-defense. They are constantly attacking us and have committed numerous war crimes. We have no choice but to defend ourselves,” he said.

The party responds

NCP secretary Timo Elo declined to comment on Ekpa’s possible membership of the party.

“We never say who is and who is not our member. It is confidential information,” Elo tells Yle.

However, Elo said that if a member of the party was suspected of terrorist crimes, it would likely lead to their expulsion.

According to Elo, Ekpa’s role in the public transport commission should, for example, be assessed locally.