Separatist agitator, Simon Ekpa, has been arrested by Finland authorities.
According to Finland news outlet, Helsingin Sanoma, Simon Ekpa was taken into custody by plainclothes police officers at his residence in Lahti, southern Finland on Thursday.
However, it is unclear why Ekpa was arrested or when he would be released, but the news outlet said the separatist provocateur was likely to face prolonged interrogations, with officers saying they were only doing their job on the matter.
Simon Ekpa became the de-facto leader of the secessionist movement, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), following the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu by security agencies.
He had declared a sit-at-home across the South-Eastern part of Nigeria, inciting people on social media to boycott Saturday’s presidential election or suffer violent consequences.
Sanomat newspaper reported on Thursday that Ekpa “doesn’t hide the fact that he is participating in the elimination of government officials.” He even leads the operation and acquires weapons”.
He also claims to command IPOB’s armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
Criminal Inspector Tommi Reen, from the Central Criminal Police confirms to Helsingin Sanoma on the phone that on Thursday, the KRP had a police operation in a private apartment in the center of Lahti in connection with the ongoing preliminary investigation. “The police arrested one man from the apartment. Krp suspects the arrested man of a crime, but does not comment on the crime at this stage.”
Reen did not confirm the man’s identity, but only spoke in general about the operation in the apartment in the center of Lahti. He did not comment further on the matter.
Nigeria has asked Finland to intervene in Ekpa’s activities.
Last week, the Nigerian foreign minister invited the Finnish ambassador Leena Pylvänäinen to a meeting because of the matter.