The self-styled spokesperson of autopilot version of the Indegenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Simon Ekpa, has been arrested in his home in Finland.
The Seperatist leader has been fingered as being the arrowhead of several killing by ‘Unknown Gunmen’, a dangerous armed militia responsible for the deaths of several people and even public officials in the South-East.
Ekpa, a self-acclaimed disciple of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), rose to prominence in July 2021 after he was announced as the lead broadcaster of Radio Biafra.
The Finland-based activist was appointed to replace Kanu at Radio Biafra following the re-arrest of the IPOB leader by the federal government. After some weeks, IPOB announced Ekpa’s disengagement, citing his refusal to sign the rules of engagement of Radio Biafra.
Ekpa was picked up from his Apartment in Lahti region of Finland by officers from the Finnish Central Criminal Police on Thursday morning.
Ekpa, a local paper said was invited to explain what his separatism and opposition to the elections is all about. He however, didn’t open the door. A neighbour who was running late opened the door to staircase.
According to HS, a Finnish based newspaper, “Simon Ekpa was escorted out of the apartment by plainclothes policemen.
“CRIMINAL INSPECTOR Tommi Reen from the Central Criminal Police confirms to HS on the phone that on Thursday, the KRP had a police operation in a private apartment in the center of Lahti in connection with the ongoing preliminary investigation. The police arrested one man from the apartment. Krp suspects the arrested man of a crime, but does not comment on the crime at this stage.
“Reen did not confirm the man’s identity, but only spoke in general about the operation in the apartment in the center of Lahti. He did not comment further on the matter.
“NIGERIA has asked Finland to intervene in Ekpa’s activities. Last week, the Nigerian foreign minister invited the Finnish ambassador Leena Pylvänäinen to a meeting because of the topic.
“Jussi Nummelin, the team leader for Western and Central Africa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland , told HS a week ago on Thursday that Finland shares the concern for security, and condemns violence and incitement to it, as well as “actions aimed at preventing people from exercising their democratic rights”.
“Nummelin emphasized, however, that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not an actual party in the case, but that the police have jurisdiction if it is a question of a suspected crime,” the newspaper said.
