Reactions continue to pour in following the arrest of Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed Prime Minister of Biafra, with some Southeast leaders demanding that he be sentenced in Finland for his actions.
Ekpa was arrested by Finnish authorities on Thursday, November 21st, 2024, alongside four others. The group was detained by the Päijät-Häme district court for allegedly spreading terrorist propaganda on social media. The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) revealed that Ekpa, who holds dual citizenship in Finland and Nigeria, is accused of encouraging others to commit terrorist acts and financing terrorism.
Chief Inspector Otto Hiltunen, leading the investigation, stated, “Ekpa is suspected of using his social media to incite violence against civilians and public authorities in Southeast Nigeria.” He added, “The suspect has furthered his efforts from Finland, resulting in violence and other crimes in the Southeast.”
Ekpa’s arrest comes amid growing insecurity in Nigeria’s Southeast, where armed groups, claiming to support the creation of Biafra, have been attacking civilians. These groups are also linked to the Monday sit-at-home order first started by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to demand the release of Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB’s leader. However, IPOB has distanced itself from Ekpa, emphasizing that he is not one of their members.
In response to Ekpa’s arrest, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South, stated that the key to restoring peace in the Southeast is not Ekpa’s arrest, but the release of Nnamdi Kanu. He said, “You want Biafra fine, but do you get Biafra by killing the same Biafrans you want? How does murdering people, killing policemen, and burning police stations help you?”
Abaribe argued that when Kanu is released, the real Biafra agitators will be distinguished from the criminals causing violence. “When Kanu comes out, then he will know his followers. Nobody will have a reason to say we are burning down this police station or killing this person.”
Bishop Johnson, a retired U.S. Army captain and military strategist, shared similar concerns. He believes that how the Finnish government handles Ekpa’s arrest will significantly affect the situation in the Southeast. Johnson explained that if the Finnish government holds Ekpa accountable for his actions in Finland, it may stop the violence and dissuade those funding Ekpa’s operations. However, he warned that if Ekpa were extradited to Nigeria and treated like Nnamdi Kanu, the situation could worsen, leading to more violence in the region. He said, “If he’s extradited to Nigeria, there is the possibility that his arrest will lead to more violence.”
Johnson stressed that the combination of Kanu’s release and Ekpa’s punishment could help bring peace to the Southeast. He added, “If Kanu is freed, we will be able to separate real agitators for self-determination from criminals who have used the opportunity for their selfish interests.”
Meanwhile, Osita Okechukwu, a former Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), has called for Ekpa’s sentencing either in Finland or Nigeria. Okechukwu, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), said, “Ekpa’s arrest was long overdue. He is a criminal and a murderer, and many lives have been lost because of him. He has grounded the economy of the Southeast.”
Okechukwu, who had earlier urged Nigerian authorities to work harder on Ekpa’s arrest, insisted that Ekpa should be sentenced for his role in the violence that has plagued the region. “There are better strategies to halt the marginalization of our people, which is not by killings and maiming,” Okechukwu added.
The debate continues over how best to address the challenges facing the Southeast, with both Ekpa’s actions and Kanu’s detention playing a significant role in the region’s instability.
