Reports filtering in have it that Simon Ekpa the self-acclaimed disciple of Nnamdi Kanu the erstwhile leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) has been arrested by the Finnish government this Thursday.
Ekpa who has been fingered in the several dastardly incidents occasioned by his sit-at-home orders has been on the watch list of the Nigerian government for some time.
The economy and peace of the south-east region of Nigeria has been sorely affected over the past few years due to the regular sit-at- home orders issued by Simon Ekpa which is targeted at pressing for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra who has been in custody and facing trial since his extradition from Kenya in controversial circumstances in 2021.
Sadly, a lot of lives have been lost and properties destroyed in the bid to enforce the sit-at-home orders of the now arrested Ekpa.
According to Nigeria’s PUNCH newspapers, an official of the Finnish Embassy in Abuja who has chosen to remain anonymous, confirmed Ekpa’s arrest.
According to the official, “It is our understanding that he is currently in police custody in Finland.”
Shedding more light, the official was quoted as saying, “According to information available to us, the image is verified by Helsingin Sanomat, a Finnish newspaper; in it, Ekpa is seen being escorted out of his home in Lahti by plainclothes Finnish police”.
This move by the Finnish Government is believed to have been provoked by two recent incidents; one being the recent petition signed by Nigerians all over the world pressing for the arrest of the agitator and the second being the demand by the Nigerian government made on the Finnish Government at a meeting with its diplomats in Abuja about a week ago in a no-holds- barred session.
The Nigerian government had reportedly made it abundantly clear at the meeting that unless something was done to stop Ekpa’s activities the south east elections may be adversely affected considering his large followership and his call on the people to not participate in the elections.
Simon Ekpa, IPOB Factional Leader, Arrested By Finland Government
