Finnish authorities have arrested Simon Ekpa, the controversial leader of the Autopilot faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), along with four other suspects on suspicion of terrorist activities.
The Finnish Central Criminal Police confirmed the arrest on Thursday, with Crime Commissioner Otto Hiltunen stating: “The police suspect that the man has promoted his efforts from Finland with means that have led to violence against civilians and authorities as well as other crimes in the region of South-eastern Nigeria. The man has carried out this activity, among other things, on his social media channels.”
The 38-year-old Nigerian-Finnish citizen, who hails from Ngbo in Ebonyi State’s Ohaukwu Local Government Area, is accused of financing terrorism and violating Finland’s Money Collection Act. The alleged crimes occurred between August 23, 2021, and November 18, 2024, in the Finnish town of Lahti.
The District Court of Päijät-Häme has ordered Ekpa’s imprisonment “with probable cause on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.”
The four other suspects, described as foreign-born individuals from the 1960s and 1970s, were arrested during the same operation, though their identities remain undisclosed.
This isn’t Ekpa’s first brush with Finnish law enforcement. In February 2023, he was briefly detained and questioned after threatening to disrupt Nigeria’s 2023 General Elections.
The Explainer learned that the arrest was connected to allegations of collecting money for terrorist activities.
As leader of the Autopilot faction of IPOB, Ekpa has been a central figure in the organization’s campaign for an independent Biafra state, encompassing Nigeria’s south-east region and parts of the south-south. His social media activities, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), have been characterized by secessionist propaganda, illegal sit-at-home orders, and fundraising appeals that authorities view as supporting terrorist activities.
On July 3, 2023, Ekpa notably solicited funds through his verified X handle, requesting “50 men and 50 women to fund the Biafra movement with $10,000 monthly for the next six months,” promising Biafra’s restoration by the end of 2023.
The Nigerian government has previously attempted to secure Ekpa’s extradition. In February 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Finnish Ambassador Leena Pylvanainen regarding Ekpa’s threats to disrupt the Nigerian elections.
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However, Pylvanainen emphasized that any action would need to comply with Finnish law, stating: “So, everything has to obviously be done according to Finnish legislation.”
Ekpa’s arrest comes amid growing concerns about escalating violence in southeastern Nigeria, where his sit-at-home orders have sometimes resulted in attacks on civilians who defy them.
