Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has expressed hope that Finland will extradite Simon Ekpa to face justice following his arrest by Finnish authorities. Ekpa, a Finnish citizen of Nigerian descent, was taken into custody alongside four others on suspicion of terror-related activities, including incitement to violence and terrorism financing.
According to Finnish police, Ekpa is accused of using social media platforms to coordinate violent actions against civilians and authorities in Nigeria’s South-East region. Detective Chief Inspector Otto Hiltunen, leading the investigation, revealed that Ekpa carried out these activities on his social media channels.
Ekpa has previously been detained in 2023 on allegations of fundraising fraud and has gained notoriety for his separatist rhetoric, particularly his calls to disrupt Nigerian elections. In a widely circulated social media video, he declared, “No elections will be held! Nigerian elections will not be allowed in Biafran territory”.
The Finnish police have emphasized the importance of international cooperation in the ongoing investigation, with hearings for the suspects scheduled for Thursday. General Musa, through the Director of Defence Media Operations, Brig-Gen. Tukur Gusau, expressed satisfaction with Ekpa’s arrest, hoping it would pave the way for his extradition to Nigeria to face justice.
Some analysts argue that Ekpa’s arrest may not necessarily solve the underlying issues driving his movement, pointing to the example of Nnamdi Kanu, another prominent separatist leader whose arrest did not diminish his popularity. Others see Ekpa’s arrest as a positive step towards addressing the violence and instability in the region
Add Comment