Why Simon Ekpa should be extradited to Nigeria – Director of Defense Information

The Director of Defense Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, on Thursday, stated that Simon Ekpa, who claims to be a follower of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, should be extradited to Nigeria to face criminal proceedings.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that many Nigerians on the internet, also called for Ekpa’s return to Nigeria so he may be charged with terrorism.

However, IPOB claimed to have no connection to the troubled Biafran separatist.

The Body further asserted that it had no relationship with him.

Ekpa is among the 97 people that the Defense Headquarters declared ‘wanted’ in March, 2024.

IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu…

The Finland-based Biafran agitator is a close supporter of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

Nnamdi Kanu has been accused of terrorism, treasonable felony, and inciting violence through his Radio Biafra, amongst others.

Kanu was arrested in Kenya and subsequently returned to Nigeria in 2021.

He has been under the custody of the Department of State Services.

President Tinubu yet to be informed about Ekpa’s detention

According to presidential spokesperson Daniel Bwala, President Bola Tinubu and National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu have not yet been briefed on Ekpa’s detention.

“The procedure is that the (Nigerian) Embassy in Finland has to have the information and it would brief the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the minister might brief the NSA or the President”, he explained.

According to a statement released by Finland’s Central Criminal Police on Thursday, Simon Ekpa and four other people were detained in Finland on terrorism-related accusations.

Ekpa was reportedly sentenced to prison “with probable cause on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent” by the District Court of Päijät-Häme, Finland.

In a statement released on Thursday, Gusau discussed the development and noted that Gen. Chris Musa, the Chief of Defense Staff, was happy with the ESN leader’s trial.

Gusau wrote: “CDS is happy with his arrest in Finland, with the hope this will be a step towards his extradition to Nigeria so that he will face justice”.

Ekpa, a Nigerian-born Finnish national, was charged with encouraging crimes with terrorist intent.

While the other defendants are suspected of financing terrorism.

His inciting remarks and orders to stay at home were the reason for his arrest in February 2023 in the South-East.

Petitions against Simon Ekpa

Thousands of Nigerians worldwide signed a petition urging the European Union, Finland, and Nigeria to detain Ekpa prior to his arrest.

He had insisted that there would be no election in the area.

He also urged the populace to abstain from the federal election in 2023, according to report.

Concerned about his actions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs called in Leena Pylvanainen, the Finnish ambassador to Nigeria, to address his threats to halt the South-East general election in 2023.

The ministry requested assistance from the Finnish government to arrest Simon Ekpa for threatening to disrupt the exercise.

The Finnish police revealed on Thursday, that Ekpa and his associates were taken into custody earlier this week as part of an international investigation.

“Prime Minister” of the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile

Ekpa posed as the “Prime Minister” of the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile.

He is accused of using social media to encourage violent acts in the South-East.

Reports revealed such includes assaults on both civilians and law enforcement.

According to the police, four people were detained “for financing a terrorist crime”.

The primary suspect was detained “on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent”.

The police stated: “Claims will be heard in Päijät-Häme district court today, November 21.

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

“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”, the statement added.

Crime Commissioner Otto Hiltunen in a statement about the case, said: “The man has carried out this activity, among other things, on his social media channels,”

This implied that his online behavior has incited violence in Nigeria, according to the report.

“Four other persons are suspected of financing the aforementioned activity.

“All five suspects in the crime were arrested at the beginning of the week.

“International cooperation has been carried out during the preliminary investigation”, the statement added.

These alleged operations are thought to have been funded by the four other individuals, whose identities have not been revealed.

According to the Central Criminal Police, there was a great deal of international cooperation in this case.

As part of their larger effort to fight terrorism, the Finnish authorities emphasized their dedication to conducting a comprehensive investigation into the matter.

Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, expressed joy over Ekpa’s arrest and the current trial.

He disclosed that the military was happy to hear the news.

On multiple occasions, the Chief of Defense Staff demanded that Ekpa be arrested on charges of funding terrorism in the Southeast.

Buba noted that the military was happy that the international community was helping the nation fight terrorism.

He stated: “The CDS has always called for the arrest of Simon Ekpa following his deep involvement in fuelling terrorism in SE Nigeria.

“We are delighted about his arrest, and glad that the international community is partnering with Nigeria in our fight against terrorism”.

Eastern Security Network (ESN)

Records has it that Eastern Security Network (ESN) was founded in December 2020.

The security network has been linked to a number of violent incidents in the South-East since then.

Although it was first established to safeguard local people and combat the actions of armed ranchers, their operations have apparently caused a great deal of discontent in the area.

The organization has been charged with ambushing and murdering Nigerian Army, police, and other security forces.

In the South-East, police stations and military checkpoints have been regularly targeted, resulting in property damage and fatalities.

Additionally, the ESN has been connected to arson assaults on government buildings, police stations, and polling places.

This has disrupted public services and governance in the area.

The ESN has been accused of extrajudicial executions, including assaults on people who are alleged to have cooperated with the government or opposed IPOB’s secessionist goals.

South-East’s level of insecurity

Particularly on days honoring Biafra or protesting the arrest of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, several communities have reported experiencing harassment or being coerced into following the group’s demands, such as its Monday sit-at-home orders.

Economic activity in the South-East was paralyzed by attacks on people, companies, and automobiles as a result of disobedience to these demands.

The South-East’s level of insecurity has increased as a result of clashes between the ESN and local vigilante groups.

This includes state-sponsored security organizations like Ebube Agu, which have caused casualties and instability.

Increased military activities in the area as a result of the situation have occasionally caused collateral damage and further alienated the local population.

The federal government earlier designated the ESN as a terrorist organization.

It reportedly went on and conducted a number of military operations to destroy it.

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