On Thursday, Simon Ekpa, a factional leader of the pro-Biafra separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was arrested by Finnish authorities for calling for a stay-at-home in Southeast Nigeria during the upcoming general elections and threatening violence against those who refused to comply.
However, he was later released after hours of questioning. The Nigerian government had sought sanctions against him from his host country Finland. Ekpa’s arrest came amid continuous agitation for an independent State of Biafra, with the lead agitator, Nnamdi Kanu, still detained by the Nigerian government.
Helsingin Sanomat, reported that plainclothes Finnish police escorted Ekpa out of his apartment in Lahti.
Finnish police officer Tommi Reen confirmed the raid but did not disclose the suspect’s identity, adding that investigations are ongoing.
Nigerians worldwide had earlier signed a petition calling for Ekpa’s arrest, but the leadership of IPOB, through its spokesperson, Emmanuel Powerful, distanced the group from Ekpa’s sit-at-home order.