Just as it was in February 2023 when he was arrested by police in Lahti, Finland, many Nigerians have applauded the arrest, Thursday, of the self-acclaimed Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in-Exile and factional leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Simon Ekpa.

Ekpa was arrested in Finland alongside four others on suspicion of terror-related activities, including incitement to violence and terrorism financing.

Reports from local publication Yle indicated that Ekpa was remanded in custody by the Päijät-Häme District Court on charges of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.

Ekpa’s arrest in 2023, in his private apartment, had sparked jubilation in some circles, though his immediate release by security operatives after interrogation had dimmed hopes that the Biafran separatist who has been calling for election boycott and sit-at-home in Igboland could be held accountable for his involvement in instigating violence in the South East region.

In a statement released on Thursday, November 21, the Finnish Central Criminal Police confirmed the arrest of five individuals suspected of terrorist activities.

According to the police, Simon Ekpa, identified as the main suspect, was detained “on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent”, while the four others were apprehended “for financing a terrorist crime”.

“The detention demands are related to a preliminary investigation in which a Finnish citizen of Nigerian descent, born in the 1980s, is suspected of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent,” the police said.

“Claims will be heard in Päijät-Häme district court today, November 21,” the police statement said.

“The police suspect that the man has promoted his efforts from Finland by means that have led to violence against civilians and authorities as well as other crimes in the region of South-Eastern Nigeria.”

Crime Commissioner Otto Hiltunen, head of the investigation, stated: “The man has carried out this activity, among other things, on his social media channels.”

Reacting to the arrest, a civil rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, emphasized the need for Ekpa to account for his actions

“You cannot stay in a foreign country and sponsor or instigate terrorism and killings in Nigeria. I wonder why it took so long for him to be taken into custody. Let’s hope that the Finnish government has done due diligence,” Effiong said in a post on X.

Special Assistant on Digital Communications to former President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad), said, “After serving his jail term in Finland, Simon Ekpa should be extradited to Nigeria to face justice for his numerous treasonable offences, particularly his role in enforcing the unlawful and condemned sit-at-home orders on our brothers and sisters.”

A staunch supporter of the imprisoned leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, who asked not to be named, told NigeriaNewsSource that even though every Igbo man desires Biafra’s freedom, it not the way “Simon Ekpa is pursuing it”.

“He has practically destroyed the good ideology that Maazi Nnamdi Kanu propagated,” the person said.

“Through his actions and criminal order to his men to kill, maim and destroy, Igboland has been turned into a valley of death. Most LGAs and communities in Igboland have been rendered desolate and indigenes are on the run (to exile) from their homelands,” he said.

The four other suspects arrested with Ekpa are accused of financing the activities under investigation.

“All five suspects of the crime have been arrested during the beginning of the week,” the Finnish police statement confirmed, adding that international cooperation has been integral to the preliminary investigation.

Ekpa is accused of coordinating violent actions against civilians and authorities in Nigeria’s South-East region from Finland, using social media platforms to further his agenda.

In 2023, Ekpa was briefly detained on allegations of fundraising fraud.

He had declared in a widely circulated social media video, “No elections will be held! Nigerian elections will not be allowed in Biafran territory.”