The Nigerian Government has announced it is closely monitoring the legal proceedings of Simon Ekpa, the self-styled Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, after his arrest in Finland. Ekpa, a prominent figure linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was taken into custody on Thursday, November 21, 2024, on charges of inciting terrorism and promoting violence.
The Finnish District Court of Päijät-Häme decided to keep Ekpa detained, citing strong evidence of his involvement in encouraging violent acts in Nigeria’s southeastern region through social media platforms.
In a statement issued on Friday, November 22, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, affirmed that the Nigerian Government is committed to closely following the trial. The statement highlighted the importance of the legal proceedings in addressing the influence of IPOB and other transnational groups that threaten Nigeria’s national security.
Previously, Nigeria had exerted diplomatic pressure on Finland to take action against Ekpa’s activities, which are believed to be linked to violent events in the South-East of Nigeria.
The statement read:
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to confirm the arrest of Mr Simon Njoku Ekpa, a Nigerian-Finnish citizen and prominent leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), by Finnish authorities on Thursday, November 21, 2024.
“He was charged with inciting terrorism and promoting violence. The Finnish District Court of Päijät-Häme ruled to detain him on probable cause for publicly inciting crimes with terrorist intent.
“The Ministry wishes to affirm that the arrest of Mr Simon Ekpa is a significant development in addressing the activities of IPOB, and also neutralising the influence of transnational actors and their impact on our national security.
“The Ministry will continue to monitor the legal proceedings and provide further updates as the case progresses.”
As the trial continues, the Nigerian Government has committed to ensuring that Ekpa’s actions are addressed under Finnish law, with a focus on mitigating the negative impact on Nigeria’s security situation.
