Rita Odafe
The Department of State Services (DSS) has announced that Simon Ekpa, a leader advocating for Biafran independence, is facing charges related to terrorism in Finland.
Ekpa was formally charged on Friday, following a period of nearly six months in detention.
He was originally arrested in November 2024 by Finnish authorities due to allegations linked to terrorism.
Currently, Finnish prosecutors are accusing him of “provoking acts of terrorism and engaging with a terrorist organization.”
As stated by Finland’s National Prosecution Authority, the accusations pertain to “publicly encouraging offenses with terrorist intentions and involvement with a terrorist group.”
The alleged offenses are said to have occurred in Lahti between 2021 and 2024 and are associated with Ekpa’s efforts to secure independence for Nigeria’s Biafra region.
“The charges were filed on Friday morning as planned,” according to the DSS as reported by Vanguard.
“The legal proceedings will take place in the Päijät-Häme District Court in Lahti, though a date for the hearing has yet to be determined.”
Additionally, the DSS revealed that Ekpa is charged with “disseminating separatist views from his residence in Lahti.”
