Finland authorities arrest Simon Ekpa

Popular Nigerian separatist agitator, Simon Ekpa has reportedly been arrested by Finland authorities.

Ekpa was arrested in his apartment in Lahti on Thursday.

The arrest follows Nigeria’s plea to Finland to intervene in Ekpa’s activities as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Godfrey Onyeama had invited the Finnish ambassador, Leena Pylvänäinen to a meeting, last week.

Criminal Investigator, Tommi Reen from the Central Criminal Police told the HS news outlet that the Keskusrikospoliisi (KRP), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Finland had a police operation in a private apartment in the centre of Lahti.

Reen said the operation was connected to an ongoing preliminary investigation. He did not comment further on the matter.

Ekpa, before his arrest, was known to have spoken against the unity of the country, insisting the Republic of Biafra must be achieved.

He had increased his campaigns after June 2021 re-arrest and repatriation of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Security and intelligence service have linked various kidnappings and murders in the South-East to speeches made by Ekpa.