Simon Ekpa’s Arrest: How the Nigerian Federal Government Pressured the Finnish Government to Effect His Arrest

The recent arrest of Simon Ekpa, a pro-Biafra agitator and Finnish-Nigerian citizen, in Finland has captured international attention. Finnish police confirmed Mr. Ekpa’s arrest alongside four other individuals on Thursday, with suspicions of terrorist activities and contributing to violence in southeastern Nigeria. This development came after Nigerian officials pushed persistently for Finland to address Simon Ekpa’s involvement in inciting attacks, particularly through his role as a leader of the “Autopilot” faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). IPOB is an organization seeking the creation of an independent state of Biafra, carved out from southeastern Nigeria.

According to the Finnish police, Mr. Simon Ekpa’s activities have contributed directly to violence and other crimes against civilians in the South-East region of Nigeria. His arrest follows years of accusations that he used his platform and resources to incite violence from abroad, creating unrest in Nigeria. The Finnish police have not yet disclosed further details of the charges, but Ekpa’s connection to extremist factions and alleged influence on attacks in Nigeria has sparked global concerns over the rise of transnational activism and militancy.

Sustained Diplomatic Pressure from Nigeria

Officials from Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that the arrest of Simon Ekpa was largely due to “sustained diplomatic pressure” from the Nigerian government. This arrest followed ongoing appeals made by Nigerian diplomats, the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and military chiefs to Finnish authorities, urging them to act against Ekpa’s influence in stoking instability in southeastern Nigeria. Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, explained that the need to contain Ekpa’s activities was emphasized during high-level diplomatic engagements between Nigeria and Finland.

The Nigerian government argued that Simon Ekpa’s inflammatory rhetoric and promotion of armed resistance undermined national security. Over the years, Simon Ekpa’s provocative broadcasts from Finland have been a source of significant distress for Nigerian authorities, who were determined to curb his reach and impact. With this diplomatic success, the Nigerian government hopes to demonstrate a commitment to protecting national security against both domestic and international threats.

Monitoring Legal Proceedings Against Ekpa

The Nigerian Foreign Ministry is closely monitoring the legal process following Ekpa’s arrest and views this as a “significant development” in mitigating IPOB’s violent activities. Mr. Ebienfa highlighted the Nigerian government’s commitment to “neutralizing the influence of transnational actors” who contribute to unrest within its borders. Although further legal actions in Finland remain uncertain, Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry has pledged to keep the public informed as the case progresses.

This arrest is seen as a critical step in addressing the transnational nature of IPOB’s operations, which has challenged Nigeria’s national security apparatus for years. Nigerian authorities are hopeful that Ekpa’s detention and possible prosecution will serve as a deterrent to others promoting violence from abroad. The Nigerian government is expected to engage with Finnish legal institutions to support the prosecution and ensure that justice is upheld.

IPOB’s Stance and Simon Ekpa’s History with the Group

Interestingly, IPOB has disowned Ekpa, with its spokesperson Emma Powerful stating that Ekpa “was never and is not an IPOB member, let alone being a leader in IPOB.” This statement is intended to distance IPOB from Ekpa’s extremist faction, Autopilot, which allegedly promotes violence more aggressively than IPOB’s official agenda. IPOB further clarified that Ekpa is not part of any registered IPOB unit in Finland or globally, even though Ekpa has publicly referred to himself as a “disciple” of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.

Ekpa’s history with IPOB, however, is complex. He initially worked as the director of IPOB’s Radio Biafra following Kanu’s detention in 2021, before being removed from the role due to alleged refusal to sign a code of conduct for the station. Frustrated by this, Ekpa formed his own faction, Autopilot, which he claimed Kanu had previously approved. Through Autopilot and the self-proclaimed Biafra Liberation Army, Ekpa has issued inflammatory statements and allegedly directed attacks, prompting renewed concerns about factional violence within Nigeria’s pro-Biafra movement.