Finnish authorities have arrested pro-Biafran agitator, Simon Ekpa, over “public exhortation to an offence, committed with terrorist intent”
The Finish National Bureau of Investigation said it has requested that Ekpa be remanded on suspicion of public exhortation for an offence, committed with terrorist intent.
Ekpa is charged alongside four other persons on suspicion of financing a terrorist offence, according to a statement by the Finnish police on Thursday.
Though the police statement did not mention Ekpa’s name, local Finnish news website Helsingin Sonamat listed his name in its report of the case.
The police statement noted that “the requests for remand are related to a criminal investigation in which a dual citizen of Finland and Nigeria born in the 1980s is suspected of public exhortation to an offence, committed with terrorist intent.
Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters has applauded the arrest of separatist leader, Simon Ekpa by Finnish Police.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, and the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau in their separate statement, described the arrest as a key victory in the anti-terror fight.
The spokespersons said the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has expressed happiness over Ekpa’s arrest.
“CDS is happy with his arrest in Finland, with the hope this will be a step towards his extradition to Nigeria so that he will face justice,” Gusau said on Thursday. Similarly, Buba said that Ekpa’s arrest is an indication that the international community is in synergy with Nigeria in its efforts to fight terrorism.
