The recent arrest of Simon Ekpa, a self-proclaimed Biafra Prime Minister, has sparked widespread reactions, with many Southeast stakeholders urging his prosecution in Finland and calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu to address escalating insecurity in the region.
Ekpa was detained last Thursday by Finnish authorities alongside four others. He is accused of promoting terrorism via social media and faces charges including incitement and funding terrorism, according to Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Detective Chief Inspector Otto Hiltunen revealed that Ekpa’s activities, conducted from Finland, had incited violence and crimes in Nigeria’s Southeast.
Abia South Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe emphasized that releasing Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is critical to distinguishing genuine Biafra agitators from criminal elements.
“You cannot achieve Biafra by killing fellow Biafrans,” Abaribe stated. “Releasing Kanu will expose the true agitators while isolating criminals who exploit the situation for violence.”
Similarly, retired U.S. Army captain and security analyst Bishop Johnson highlighted that holding Ekpa accountable in Finland could disrupt his network of supporters and financiers. “If properly handled, his arrest could significantly reduce incitement and violence in the Southeast,” Johnson said, warning, however, that extradition to Nigeria could escalate tensions due to the country’s poor human rights record.
Osita Okechukwu, a former Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), insisted that Ekpa should face sentencing in either Finland or Nigeria for his alleged crimes, which have destabilized the Southeast’s economy and claimed numerous lives.
“Ekpa is a criminal whose actions have caused untold suffering to the people of the Southeast,” Okechukwu said. “His arrest is long overdue, and I commend the diplomatic efforts that led to this development.”
Stakeholders agree that resolving the crisis requires a dual approach: holding Ekpa accountable and releasing Kanu. According to Johnson, freeing Kanu would strip criminals of the excuse they use to perpetrate violence under the guise of agitation.
“Most of the violence is driven by criminals exploiting Kanu’s incarceration. His release, combined with Ekpa’s prosecution, would pave the way for peace,” Johnson concluded.
The debate continues as Southeast leaders and stakeholders emphasize justice and dialogue as tools to restore stability in the region.
