The self acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Simon Ekpa, has been sentenced to prison in Finland over terrorist propaganda, Edum News reports.
He was arrested by law enforcement in Finland, and was subsequently sent to prison by the district court of Päijät-Häme for “spreading terrorist propaganda on social media.”
The court found him guilty, stating that he committed the crime in 2021 in Lahti municipality.
Note that Ekpa, who is a citizen of Finland and Nigeria, has since described himself as leader of the separatist IPOB group since Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest and detention.
The Finnish police stated that Ekpa’s activities and social media rhetoric may have fanned the flames of violence in the south-east of Nigeria.
“He carries out these activities from his social media channels, for example,” Otto Hiltunen, detective chief inspector of the NBI, stated.
Recall that Simon Ekpa was also arrested in February 2023, at his residence in Lahti but was released after hours of questioning.
Using his social media channels, Ekpa had directed Igbos not to participate in Nigeria’s 2023 general election.
This News has sparked reactions among Nigerians especially people of the South East region.
Some persons have expressed happiness that Ekpa has been arrested in Finland.
They stated that he should give account of his actions.
They also criticized him for sponsoring and instigating terrorism and killings in Nigeria, while enjoying peace in a foreign country, adding that his arrest is long overdue.
