December 02, (THEWILL) – Pro-Biafra separatist based in Finland, Simon Ekpa, was finally arrested, alongside four others, by the Finnish authorities on suspicion of involvement in terror-related activities.
The self-styled ‘Prime Minister’ of the ‘United States of Biafra Government In-Exile’ was apprehended after an investigation was concluded by the police. He was almost immediately remanded in custody by a district court on charges bordering on public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.
Back home in Nigeria, the news of the sudden downturn in Ekpa’s fortune was received with glee, if not jubilation, by the Federal Government and private citizens who had lived all the while in mortal dread of the activities of his supporters, particularly in southeastern Nigeria.
To many law-abiding Nigerians, Ekpa, who at a time claimed, albeit falsely, to be the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, was not only a thorn in the flesh of the Nigerian authorities but also the devil incarnate whose activities and separatist rhetoric had a significant impact on the insecurity in the South-East geopolitical zone.
The Finnish police also accused Ekpa of coordinating violent actions against ordinary citizens and the authorities in Nigeria. Just before he was apprehended, he had promised to formally declare the United States of Biafra as a sovereign nation today (December 2, 2024).
In his absence and apparently in a swift reaction to his arrest, Ekpa’s supporters went on to make the declaration last Friday in Finland, in a ceremony rumoured to have many delegates from Nigeria in attendance.
The event attracted a backlash from the foremost Igbo socio-cultural and political group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide; the IPOB, whose real leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is still in the custody of the Nigerian secret police, the Department of State Service, DSS; other organisations and well meaning individuals.
IPOB dissociated itself from the declaration in Finland. In a statement, it’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful described the event as a scam. He claimed that those involved in the event were “among the sponsors of insecurity” in the South-East.
Ohanaeze described the declaration of a sovereign Biafra nation as mere “social media content.” The group reminded those involved in political gatherings held in Finland that they do not have the legitimate authority to speak or act on behalf of the Igbo at home and in the Diaspora.
The Finnish authorities have said that Ekpa will face charges in May 2025. Since the country’s legal system does not allow bail for terrorism-related offences, it is very likely that Ekpa will not be released on bail.
While we accept that the decision to try the pro-Biafra separatist in Finland May be connected with his status as a citizen of that country, it definitely runs contrary to the expectation of the Nigerian authorities who would rather have him extradited from Finland to face justice in Nigeria.
It is not clear if the Federal Government specifically requested Finland to extradite Ekpa or not, but the crimes for which he was arrested, were committed in Nigeria. One would expect the Government of Finland to do the needful by extraditing him to Nigeria where he is most wanted.
Nevertheless, as we await the commencement of his trial in Finland sometime in May 2025, a window of opportunity is open to all concerned, especially in Nigeria, to explore all available means to put an end to insecurity in the South-East and restore peace and progress in the region.
