Finland Charges Biafran Leader Simon Ekpa with Terrorism Offenses

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Finnish authorities have officially charged Biafran separatist leader Simon Ekpa with terrorism-related offenses after holding him in custody for nearly six months.

Ekpa, a dual Finnish-Nigerian citizen, was first arrested in November 2024 by Finland’s security services over suspicions of terrorism. On Friday, he was formally charged with public incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent and participating in the activities of a terrorist group. The offenses allegedly occurred in the city of Lahti between 2021 and 2024.

Although prosecutors did not name him directly, Finnish public broadcaster YLE confirmed the suspect as Simon Ekpa.

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Ekpa, who claims to head the self-declared Biafra Republic government in exile, has denied the allegations and remains in custody as the legal proceedings continue. His case will be heard at the Päijät-Häme District Court in Lahti, though a hearing date is yet to be set.

Authorities believe Ekpa’s actions, including the spread of separatist propaganda from his residence in Lahti, incited violence and unrest in southeastern Nigeria. He is widely recognized as a factional leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group campaigning for the independence of Nigeria’s southeast region—a region that suffered a devastating civil war in the late 1960s.

The Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja confirmed the charges to Vanguard, stating that Ekpa is suspected of committing the crimes between August 2021 and November 2024.

Ekpa also holds a political role in Finland, serving on a local public transport committee in Lahti as a representative of the conservative National Coalition Party.

In connection to the case, Finnish authorities had detained four other suspects over alleged financial support for Ekpa’s activities. However, they were later released due to a lack of evidence.

Investigations by Finnish police and Nigerian authorities remain ongoing.


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