The Finnish Government has revealed that it is taking action against pro-Biafran agitator Simon Ekpa due to his secessionist activities with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Nigeria’s South-East.
Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen, announced this during a press conference in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, alongside her Nordic counterparts on Tuesday.
She stated that Ekpa’s case, reported to the Finnish government by Nigerian authorities, is now before Finnish courts.
Ekpa, who refers to himself as the Biafra Prime Minister, has been a vocal advocate for sit-at-home directives in the South Eastern states, despite the IPOB leadership having suspended this exercise.
In February 2023, shortly before the presidential and national assembly elections, Ekpa was arrested in Finland, where he resides, after threatening that the elections would not take place in the South-East.
Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat reported that Ekpa was arrested by police at his residence in Lahti.
Ekpa has repeatedly declared that there would be no elections in Nigeria’s South-East and has insisted on a weekly sit-at-home protest every Monday to demand the release of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.
IPOB, however, distanced itself from the Finland-based Ekpa who was reportedly billed for an interview before his arrest.
He was later released and has since been very active on social media, where he continues to post his pro-Biafran messages.
Valtonen was part of a delegation of Nordic Ministers from Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Denmark, who visited Nigeria to deepen trade ties between the countries.
The ministers emphasized that countering violent extremism in West Africa and achieving sustainable development goals are among their areas of special focus.
The Nordic ministers, aiming to strengthen relations on the African continent, will continue their two-day trip in Ghana.