Biafra Agitator, Simon Ekpa Gets Six-Year Sentence In Finland

A Finnish court has sentenced Simon Ekpa, a Finnish citizen of Nigerian descent, to six years in prison after convicting him of multiple terrorism-related offences on Monday, August 26, 2025. The court found that Ekpa attempted to promote the independence of Biafra—Nigeria’s south-eastern secessionist region—through illegal means.

Between August 2021 and November 2024, Ekpa used his social media platforms to incite violence and urge followers to commit crimes in Nigeria. According to the court’s unanimous ruling, he also equipped armed groups with weapons and explosives through a network of contacts.

In addition to terrorism charges, Ekpa was convicted of aggravated tax fraud. He has denied all charges, and it remains unclear whether he will appeal the ruling.

Diplomatic Tensions Rise as Nigeria Seeks Extradition

The Nigerian government has repeatedly demanded Ekpa’s extradition to face justice at home, labeling him a key figure behind a wave of deadly unrest in the country’s southeast. While Finnish authorities arrested him at his home in Lahti in February 2023, they have yet to approve any extradition request.

Ekpa, a former local councillor in Finland, previously claimed leadership of a faction within the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist group banned in Nigeria. IPOB was initially formed in 2012 as a peaceful movement but launched an armed wing in 2020, citing a need to defend the Igbo ethnic group.

A Legacy of Violence and a Nation Still Divided

Since IPOB’s shift to militancy, Nigeria’s south-east has suffered widespread violence, including attacks on government institutions and civilians. Critics accuse the group of causing enormous suffering, while supporters view it as a response to decades of marginalization.

Ekpa rose to prominence in 2022 as an online propagandist for the movement, often calling for civil disobedience and armed resistance. His conviction in Finland could mark a turning point in how countries handle diaspora-based activism that crosses into incitement and extremism.

As the Nigerian government awaits a decision on his possible extradition, families affected by the violence continue to seek justice, and Finland finds itself at the center of a diplomatic and legal storm.