A Finnish court has sentenced Simon Ekpa, a Nigerian separatist leader, to six years in prison for terrorism-related activities, tax fraud, and incitement. Ekpa, who leads a faction of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was found guilty of promoting the independence of southeastern Nigeria through illegal means and supplying weapons to armed groups.
The conviction comes after years of unrest in Nigeria’s southeast, where his campaigns have been linked to killings, abductions, and economic disruption. Ekpa used social media to mobilize support for secessionist actions, prompting both Finnish authorities and the Nigerian government to take legal action. The Nigerian military had declared him wanted alongside nearly 100 other separatists for terrorism and violent extremism.
IPOB traces its roots to the 1960s Biafra secession, which ended in a bloody civil war. While originally a peaceful movement, the group’s armed wing emerged in 2020, escalating regional instability. Ekpa’s imprisonment in Finland underscores the international dimension of Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges and raises questions about accountability, cross-border enforcement, and the future of separatist movements in the region.
Source: Viewers Corner News