Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland has remanded a self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the dream Biafra Republic Government in Exile, Simon Ekpa, along with four others, after they were arrested over alleged terrorism.
They were charged with public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent, according to Finnish media reports.
In a statement today, November 21, Finland’s Central Criminal Police confirmed the arrest of five individuals for terror-related crimes. Ekpa is accused of using social media to incite violence against civilians and authorities in southeastern Nigeria.
Nigerian authorities had petitioned the Finnish government to arrest Ekpa.
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 police said that the four suspects were arrested for financing the alleged terrorist activities.
The case involves international collaboration and court there would be hearings for the suspects, even as the country’s Crime commissioner, Otto Hiltunen confirmed that the main suspect, a Finnish citizen of Nigerian descent, born in the 1980s, has promoted activities resulting in violence and other crimes.
Further investigations are ongoing.
Ekpa was first arrested in Finland in February 2023. He was later released.
