The Finnish government has announced that it is taking action regarding Simon Ekpa, a pro-Biafran agitator, due to his secessionist activities with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Nigeria’s South-East. This was revealed by Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen, during a press conference in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, alongside her Nordic counterparts.
Valtonen stated that the case of Ekpa, whose activities were reported to the Finnish government by the Nigerian government, is currently before Finnish courts. Ekpa, who claims to be the Prime Minister of Biafra, has been a vocal advocate for sit-at-home directives in the South-East, despite the mainstream leadership of IPOB suspending the exercise.
In February 2023, Ekpa was arrested in Finland for threatening to disrupt Nigeria’s presidential and national assembly elections. He had repeatedly declared that there would be no elections in the South-East and insisted on a sit-at-home protest every Monday to demand the release of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu. However, IPOB distanced itself from Ekpa, who was later released and has continued to post pro-Biafran messages on social media.
The Finnish government’s decision to take action against Ekpa demonstrates its commitment to addressing secessionist activities and promoting stability in the region. The case highlights the ongoing tensions between pro-Biafran groups and the Nigerian government, with the Finnish government’s involvement adding an international dimension to the issue.
