LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) – Simon Ekpa, a prominent Nigerian separatist leader, has been sentenced to six years in prison by a Finnish court on charges of terrorism, tax fraud, and a breach of ethical conduct. Ekpa, residing in Finland, is known for his leadership of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), a group that has been implicated in numerous violent incidents, including killings and kidnappings in Nigeria's southeastern region.
The Finnish court determined that Ekpa's actions constituted participation in the activities of a terrorist organization, public incitement to commit crimes for terrorist purposes, aggravated tax fraud, and violations of the Lawyers Act. According to the court's ruling, he allegedly promoted the independence of a separatist region in Nigeria using "illegal means" and facilitated the provision of weapons, explosives, and ammunition to associated groups through his network of contacts.
In 2024, following a crackdown on terrorism, the Nigerian military declared Ekpa wanted, as part of a broader manhunt for nearly 100 individuals linked to terrorism charges. Subsequent to his arrest in Finland, the Nigerian government sought to extradite him to Nigeria, where he faces additional legal challenges.
For several years, IPOB has aimed to revive the secession efforts of the former Biafra, which was a short-lived republic comprising the southeastern regions of Nigeria, including areas rich in oil resources. The original secession attempt was met with fierce resistance from the Nigerian military government, culminating in a civil war that lasted from 1967 to 1970, during which an estimated 3 million people lost their lives.
The group IPOB was officially banned in Nigeria in 2017 due to its escalating violent activities. After the arrest of IPOB's founder, Nnamdi Kanu, by Interpol in a sting operation in Kenya in 2021, Ekpa assumed leadership. Kanu has been imprisoned in Nigeria since his extradition, with his trial still pending.
In response to Kanu's arrest, IPOB initiated a "sit-at-home" campaign, which prohibits all commercial activities in the region every Monday. This protest has persisted since 2021 and has reportedly resulted in approximately 700 deaths, according to data compiled by SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based geopolitical risk advisory. Furthermore, the ongoing disruptions have inflicted a considerable economic toll, costing the Nigerian economy an estimated 7.6 trillion naira, equivalent to about $4.79 billion.
