The Federal Government has hailed the sentencing of pro-Biafra agitator Simon Ekpa as a crucial development in Nigeria’s efforts to combat terrorism.
On Monday, the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland handed Ekpa a six-year jail term after finding him guilty of inciting terrorist acts and collaborating with a terrorist organisation.
According to the court, Ekpa exploited his large social media audience to promote violence and unrest across Nigeria’s South-East region from August 2021 to November 2024.
In response, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, expressed the government’s satisfaction in a statement shared on X. He described the verdict as a “major victory in the war against terror” within the country.
“We welcome the news of Simon Ekpa’s conviction by a Finnish court for terrorism-related crimes and his sentencing to six years in prison,” Idris stated. “A major victory for the Nigerian people in the collective fight against terror.”
Ekpa, who identified himself as a disciple of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), became known for driving the controversial sit-at-home protests across the South-East. The violent enforcement of the protests claimed the lives of both civilians and security personnel.
After Kanu’s extradition from Kenya in June 2021, Ekpa briefly took over as lead broadcaster at Radio Biafra. However, he was later dismissed by IPOB for flouting the station’s rules, which led to strained ties and the eventual formation of his own splinter group.
Ekpa was arrested by Finnish authorities in November 2024 and subsequently convicted for “spreading terrorist propaganda on social media.” In March 2025, Nigeria officially designated him as a “terrorism financier.”
What you should know
Simon Ekpa rose to prominence as a staunch supporter of Nnamdi Kanu and played a central role in intensifying agitation in Nigeria’s South-East through the sit-at-home campaigns.
His conviction in Finland marks a symbolic and practical win for Nigeria, reinforcing its stance against violent separatist movements and terrorism-related activities.
