The Biafran separatist leader has been arrested in Finland days after threatening to frustrate Nigeria’s general election, Finnish daily Helsingin Sanoma reported.
The outlet said Simon Ekpa was taken into custody by plainclothes police officers shortly before he was due to be interviewed by a filmmaker at his residence in Lahti, southern Finland.
It was not immediately clear why Mr Ekpa was arrested or when he would be released. Still, the paper said the separatist provocateur was likely to face prolonged interrogations, with officers saying they were only doing their job on the matter.
The arrest comes as Mr Ekpa intensifies an attempt to frustrate the Nigerian presidential elections scheduled for February 25.
Mr Ekpa, 37, shot into prominence following the abduction of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu by Nigerian authorities in June 2021 — becoming the de facto leader of the secessionist movement. He had declared a so-called sit-at-home edict for residents across the country’s South-East to stay away from polling centres or suffer violent consequences.
The Nigerian government had asked Finland to intervene in the operation of a separatist in Lahti. On Thursday morning, KRP prevented HS from entering Ekpa’s apartment and said the interview would move to “the future”.
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Ekpa drives Biafra’s independence in Southeastern Nigeria without losing. He encourages people in social media to boycott the Saturday presidential election.
On Thursday, ECPA does not say that he would not participate in the elimination of government people. He even leads and acquires weapons. ”
ECPA claims that he has become a substitute for the Director of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) separatist movement, Nnamdi Kanu, after he was arrested. He also claims to determine the IPOB armed wing Eastern Security Network (ESN).
But the skein is complicated. Part of those who claim to be IPOB or ESN members are blaming the first lying and abuse of the name of the cane.
The intention is to demand the forefront to explain what his separatism and the opposition to the election are all about.
We are late. Ekpa’s neighbour will soon open the door to the stairwell. The journey breaks down.
The police are waiting for the police from the Central Criminal Police.
“The interview goes to the future,” he says.
When asked if the interrogation is long or the fact that the person we are looking for after them is not possible to meet, the police respond that “both and”.
“Krp is doing his job here,” he says.
The photographer on the HS site later testified when civilian cops led Simon Ekpa out of the apartment.
Criminal Inspector Tommi Ree of the Central Criminal Police confirms to HS on the phone that KRP had a police operation in a private residence in the centre of Lahti on Thursday during the ongoing pre-trial investigation. Police caught one man from the apartment. KRP suspects the man arrested for the crime but does not comment at this stage of the crime title.
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