Simon Ekpa, a Finnish-Nigerian separatist leader, and four other people were detained in Finland on suspicion of engaging in acts related to terrorism, such as inciting violence and financing terrorism.
The Päijät-Häme District Court remanded Ekpa in detention on allegations of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent, according to the local newspaper Yle.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Finnish Central Criminal Police confirmed the arrests, according to the outlet, adding that the other individuals had been detained on suspicion of funding terrorism.
“A Finnish citizen of Nigerian heritage, born in the 1980s, is suspected of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent, and the detention demands are related to a preliminary investigation,” the police stated.
Ekpa is charged with using social media to further his goal and organizing violent acts against authorities and citizens in the South-East area of Nigeria from Finland.
The investigation’s chief investigator, Detective Chief Inspector Otto Hiltunen, disclosed, “The man has carried out this activity, among other things, on his social media channels.”
Ekpa and the other suspects, two of whom live in Helsinki, are accused of financing terrorism, according to the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation.
Ekpa has had previous run-ins with Finnish authorities. He was briefly arrested in 2023 on charges of fundraising fraud.
Ekpa’s separatist speech, especially his efforts to sabotage Nigerian elections, has also brought him prominence.
In 2023, he said in a social media video that went viral, “There will be no elections! Biafran territory will not be used for Nigerian elections.
Hearings for the individuals are set for Thursday, and Finnish police said that foreign cooperation has been essential to the ongoing investigation.
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