Simon Ekpa Sentenced to Prison in Finland for Promoting Terrorism
A Finnish court in Päijät-Häme has sentenced Simon Ekpa, a Nigerian-Finnish dual citizen and prominent figure within the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to prison over charges of spreading terrorist propaganda.
Ekpa was found guilty of engaging in terrorism-related activities in 2021 while residing in Lahti, Finland. The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) revealed that his social media content incited violence in Nigeria's southeastern region. According to Detective Chief Inspector Otto Hiltunen, Ekpa's online activities fueled unrest and encouraged violent behavior.
Finnish authorities also arrested four other individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism-related offenses.
Ekpa, who declared himself a leader of IPOB after Nnamdi Kanu’s detention, was previously detained at his Lahti residence in February 2023 but was later released following interrogation. Investigations linked his actions to violent incidents in Nigeria, including enforcing sit-at-home orders that led to civilian casualties.
He was accused of inciting attacks on Nigerian security forces and civilians who defied his directives. Additionally, Ekpa spearheaded efforts to discourage voter participation in Nigeria’s 2023 general elections.
Despite repeated appeals from Nigerian authorities, Finland faced criticism for its delayed response to Ekpa’s activities. His sentencing is considered a significant step in addressing the influence of individuals promoting violence from overseas.
Authorities further alleged that Ekpa had ties to IPOB’s armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), and was involved in mobilizing resources to fund their operations. Finnish officials reiterated the importance of combating terrorism globally, regardless of its origin.
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