Nigerian authorities have announced plans to request the extradition of a controversial leader of a banned separatist movement following his arrest in Finland on terrorism charges.
Simon Ekpa, a Finnish national of Nigerian descent, claims to lead a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) from exile—a group pushing for the creation of a breakaway state in Nigeria’s south-east.
Officials in Nigeria allege that Ekpa has used social media platforms to incite violence and are determined to bring him to justice.
Ekpa has denied involvement in the recent wave of violence in south-eastern Nigeria, a region with a history of civil war dating back to the late 1960s.
Identifying himself as the “prime minister” of the self-declared Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, Ekpa maintains ties to Ipob.
Despite his claims, Ipob, banned in Nigeria, has publicly distanced itself from Ekpa.
Earlier this year, the Nigerian army listed Ekpa and 96 others as wanted for terrorism, extremism, and advocating secession.
Residing in Lahti, Finland, Ekpa also serves as a representative for Finland’s National Coalition Party, as reported by AFP.
Finnish investigators revealed that Ekpa had incited violence in south-east Nigeria while operating from Finland, leveraging his social media presence.
Otto Hiltunen, head of the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation, said Ekpa’s activities had included incitement against civilians and authorities in Nigeria.
Authorities noted the case involved international collaboration, though they did not confirm Nigeria’s direct involvement.
Four individuals were also detained on suspicion of financing Ekpa’s operations.
It remains unclear if Nigeria has formally submitted an extradition request, but officials have expressed confidence that Ekpa will face trial in the country.
Dada Olusegun, a special assistant to President Tinubu, took a jab at Ekpa’s self-proclaimed title, posting on X: “Thank you Finland. See you soon Prime Minister.”
The Nigerian army celebrated Ekpa’s arrest, hailing it as a significant step in combating terrorism.
Army spokesperson Tukur Gusau said the military was optimistic about Ekpa’s extradition, while Defence Media Director Edward Buba thanked the international community for its cooperation.
Previous efforts to extradite Ekpa have been unsuccessful.
In February, Finnish authorities briefly detained Ekpa after he threatened to disrupt Nigeria’s elections, but he was released following interrogation.
At the time, the Nigerian army accused Finland and the EU of shielding Ekpa, though Finnish officials insisted on respecting his rights as a citizen.
Ekpa has garnered significant support in parts of south-east Nigeria, a region long plagued by unrest stemming from clashes between Ipob and security forces.
He has repeatedly called for sit-at-home protests against the Nigerian government, amplifying his influence in the region.
Ekpa gained notoriety in 2021 when he announced on Facebook that Ipob leader Nnamdi Kanu had tasked him with broadcasting on Radio Biafra.
Kanu has been detained since 2021 after being captured in Kenya and extradited to Nigeria.
Founded in 2012 as a non-violent movement, Ipob formed an armed wing in 2020, claiming it aimed to defend the Igbo ethnic group, though critics accuse it of perpetuating violence and suffering.
A Nigerian court has officially classified Ipob as a terrorist organization.