The Nigerian Government has stated its commitment to closely monitoring the legal proceedings involving Simon Ekpa, the self-styled Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile.
Ekpa was arrested in Finland on Thursday, November 21, 2024, on charges of inciting terrorism and promoting violence.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Ekpa’s arrest, describing it as a critical step toward addressing the activities of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and mitigating transnational threats to Nigeria’s national security.
The Finnish District Court of Päijät-Häme ruled to detain Ekpa on probable cause, citing allegations that he incited violence in southeastern Nigeria through his social media platforms.
“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 statement read.
The government emphasized that Ekpa’s arrest is a significant development in curbing IPOB’s influence and addressing the unrest in Nigeria’s South-East region.
It also noted that previous diplomatic efforts had urged Finnish authorities to take action against Ekpa’s activities, which have been linked to violent incidents in the region.
“The Ministry wishes to affirm that the arrest of Mr. Simon Ekpa is a significant development in addressing the activities of IPOB and neutralizing the influence of transnational actors and their impact on our national security,” the statement added.
The Ministry assured Nigerians that it will continue to track the progress of Ekpa’s legal proceedings and provide updates as the case unfolds, ensuring that his actions are appropriately addressed under Finnish law.
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