Terrorism: IPOB disowns Finland-based Biafran agitator after arrest
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has distanced themselves from the self acclaimed Prime Minister of Biafra Government in Exile (BRGIE) Simon Ekpa.
Ekpa was arrested alongside four others by the government of Finland over terror-related activities.
Finnish Police said Ekpa was arrested “on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent”, while four others were arrested “for financing a terrorist crime”.
“The detention demands are related to the preliminary investigation, in which a Finnish citizen of Nigerian background, born in the 1980s, is suspected of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.
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“The police suspect that the man has promoted his efforts from Finland by means that have led to violence against civilians and authorities as well as other crimes in the region of South-Eastern Nigeria.”
The statement quoted the head of the investigation, Crime Commissioner Otto Hiltunen from the Central Crime Police as saying that “the man has carried out this activity, among other things, on his social media channels.
“Four other persons are suspected of financing the activity above. All five suspects of the crime have been arrested at the beginning of the week. International cooperation has been carried out during the preliminary investigation,” the statement added.
However, reacting to his arrest, IPOB in a statement on Friday by its spokesman, Emma Powerful, accused Ekpa of recruiting violent criminals to destabilize the South East Region.
Emma noted that the infamous BGIE led by Simon Ekpa created a violent group known as the Biafra Liberation Army.
IPOB however disowned him noting that Ekpa is never a registered member of IPOB.
