Finland Officially Charges Biafra Separatist Leader Simon Ekpa with Terrorism Offenses
Finnish authorities have formally charged Biafran separatist figure, Simon Ekpa, with terrorism-related offenses, following his arrest in November 2024. The charges mark a significant development in an ongoing international investigation involving Nigeria and Finland.
According to Finland’s National Prosecution Authority, Ekpa faces allegations of public incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent and participation in the activities of a terrorist group. The alleged offenses reportedly took place in Lahti, Finland, between 2021 and 2024.
Although the Finnish prosecution did not initially name the suspect, public broadcaster YLE confirmed the individual in question as Simon Ekpa a dual citizen of Nigeria and Finland who currently resides in Lahti.
Ekpa, a self-declared leader of a Biafra government-in-exile, has consistently denied the allegations. He remains in custody as legal proceedings unfold. No court date has yet been set, but the case will be heard in the Päijät-Häme District Court in Lahti.
Ekpa’s political profile in Finland extends beyond separatist activism. He holds a local position with the conservative National Coalition Party in Lahti and is known to serve on the city’s public transportation committee. However, his more controversial role lies in his leadership of a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group advocating for the independence of southeastern Nigeria.
The region, once the epicenter of the brutal Biafran civil war in the late 1960s, has seen renewed agitation in recent years largely fueled by social media campaigns and public broadcasts. Finnish and Nigerian security agencies allege that Ekpa’s online activities contributed to incitements of violence in Nigeria, targeting civilians and state officials alike.
In a statement to Vanguard, Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) confirmed the charges filed in Finland on Friday. “The charges were filed today (Friday morning) as scheduled,” the DSS noted. “Ekpa is suspected of committing the crimes between August 2021 and November 2024.”
While Ekpa remains the primary focus of the investigation, Finnish authorities had earlier detained four other suspects linked to the case for allegedly financing his activities. They were later released due to insufficient evidence.
Finnish and Nigerian authorities are continuing their collaboration as investigations persist into the broader implications of Ekpa’s separatist campaign.
As the case proceeds, it is likely to intensify discussions about free speech, diaspora activism, and the reach of international law in politically sensitive conflicts.
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Finland Officially Charges Biafra Separatist Leader Simon Ekpa with Terrorism Offenses