Ekpa, known for his vehement opposition to the Nigerian government, has been embroiled in controversies over his support for actions destabilizing the Southeast region..
Over the past years, Ekpa has openly supported the activities of the ‘unknown gunmen’ who have on many occasions, totally shut down activities and killed many residents every Monday in the southeast region.
Despite appeals from Nnamdi Kanu, the incarcerated leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), for an end to the killings and violence in the region, the unrest has persisted.
Ekpa’s troubles begin in Finland.
Simon Ekpa was arrested on Thursday, November 21, 2024, by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Finland, on charges of inciting terrorism and promoting violence and subsequently sent to prison by the district court of Päijät-Häme.
Finnish authorities accused Ekpa of using social media to spread separatist propaganda, incite violence, and encourage illegal activities, resulting in significant disruptions in Nigeria’s South-East region.
Simon Ekpa’s online activities have been linked to violent incidents in the Southeast region of Nigeria. According to Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, his arrest followed sustained diplomatic efforts by the Nigerian government urging Finland to take action against his activities.
The government is also finalizing plans to seek his extradition to face charges in Nigeria.
Ex-US Offical, Rubin counters Finnish Authorities
However, concerns have been raised in light of the controversial 2021 extradition of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, a British-Nigerian citizen, from Kenya to Nigeria.
Following Ekpa’s arrest, Michael Rubin, a former U.S. government official attached to the Pentagon and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, criticized Finnish authorities for their handling of the case.
According to Rubin, it was unfair for the Finnish authorities to arrest Ekpa when all he sought was ‘freedom’ for his people. He accused Finland’s judiciary and its foreign ministry of allowing scammers and human rights abusers to weaponize its judiciary as a mechanism for transnational repression and harassment.
“Finland coasts on its reputation of liberalism, human rights, and freedom. When it comes to Africans escaping repression at home, alas, it is a reputation the country no longer deserves.” He said.
Ekpa’s Southeast Region welcome arrest
Rubin’s support for Ekpa, however, appears detached from the realities on the ground, as several prominent officials from Ekpa’s Southeast region have expressed their intent to support the Nigerian government in court if Ekpa is formally extradited to face charges.
According to a report by The International Center for Investigative Reporting, the Southeast region suffered massive economic losses amounting to ₦5.375 trillion ($12.215 billion) after the separatist groups shut down activities for 71 Mondays between August 9, 2021 and December 19, 2022.
These losses continue to grow as the Monday sit-at-home directive persists unabated.
Nigerian authorities and communities in the Southeast, where IPOB’s activities have fueled violence, have welcomed the arrest, viewing it as a step toward reducing the group’s ability to cause harm.
The Enugu State Government has offered to provide “evidence of atrocities” allegedly perpetrated in South-east Nigeria by the pro-Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chidiebere Onyia, stated on Friday that the arrest of Simon Ekpa aligns with the directives of Governor Peter Mbah’s administration to Finnish authorities.
The Catholic Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Rt. Rev. Jonas Benson, also urged the Finnish government to uphold Ekpa’s detention. Bishop Benson criticized Ekpa, labeling him a “rascal” whose actions have, in his view, inflicted harm on Igbo land and its people.
Joining the chorus of Southeast leaders endorsing Ekpa’s arrest, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, a veteran lawmaker from the region, expressed his approval of the move. He accused Ekpa of exploiting the Biafran freedom movement to incite violence in the region.
Although Simon Ekpa has garnered support from figures like Rubin abroad, his actions have reportedly alienated him from his own community, with many refusing to rally behind his cause.
