Simon Ekpa’s conviction major victory in war against terror, says FG

The federal government has welcomed the conviction of pro-Biafra agitator Simon Ekpa. 

On Monday, the Päijät-Häme district court in Finland, sentenced Ekpa to six years in prison for terrorism offences.

The court ruled that Ekpa was guilty of promoting terrorist acts and being involved with a terrorist organisation.

The court said Ekpa exploited his large social media audience to fuel unrest in Nigeria’s south-east between August 2021 and November 2024.

In a post on X, Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, said Ekpa’s conviction and sentencing is a “major victory in the war against terror” in Nigeria.

“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,” he wrote.

“A major victory for the Nigerian people in the collective fight against terror.

“This ruling stands as a watershed moment — not only for the countless innocent Nigerians whose lives and livelihoods have been brutally disrupted by the reign of terror incited and financed by Ekpa and his collaborators — but also for the strengthening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and Finland.

“For years, Ekpa’s reckless incitement and orchestration of violence through IPOB terror activities unleashed unspeakable pain: families shattered, businesses destroyed, children orphaned, and entire communities forced to live under fear.

“Hundreds of lives were lost, and many more maimed, in pursuit of a destructive and unlawful agenda that sought to undermine the peace, unity, and sovereignty of our nation.

“By upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice is served, the Finnish judiciary has not only vindicated Nigeria’s consistent position on this matter but also sent a clear signal to extremists everywhere that the world is watching, and justice will catch up with those who seek to destabilize societies through terror.”

Ekpa, who describes himself as a follower of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been at the forefront of the sit-at-home campaign in the south-east — a movement whose violent enforcement has resulted in deaths of residents and security personnel.

After Kanu was extradited to Nigeria from Kenya in June 2021, Ekpa was appointed as Radio Biafra’s lead broadcaster.

Weeks later, IPOB announced Ekpa’s dismissal, citing his refusal to sign the rules of engagement of Radio Biafra.

The development strained the relationship between IPOB and Ekpa, and the Finland-based lawyer went on to form a splinter secessionist group.

In November 2024, Ekpa was arrested by law enforcement in Finland.

He was subsequently sent to prison by the district court for “spreading terrorist propaganda on social media”.

In March 2025, the federal government designated Ekpa a “terrorism financier”.