HELSINKI, FINLAND — Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) faction known as the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE), has been sentenced to six years in prison by a Finnish court. The Päijät-Häme District Court found Ekpa guilty of terrorism-related charges, including participating in a terrorist organization and publicly inciting crimes for terrorist purposes.
The court’s ruling follows a determination that between August 2021 and November 2024, Ekpa utilized his significant social media following to fuel tensions and incite violence in Nigeria’s southeastern Biafra region.
Ekpa, who denied all charges, was also convicted of supplying armed separatist groups with weapons, explosives, and ammunition through his network, in addition to aggravated tax fraud.
The Finnish court’s ruling is not yet final and can be appealed to a higher court. A long-term resident of Lahti and a former local councilor, Ekpa was arrested in November 2024 by the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which subsequently froze his assets and those of his associates.
The Nigerian government has previously expressed interest in prosecuting Ekpa for promoting separatist violence via social media, although no official extradition request from Finland has been announced. The sentencing marks a significant development in the international efforts to address the activities of separatist movements and their leaders who operate from abroad.
Source: BBC