By Our correspondent
The Federal Government has reacted to the six-year jail term handed to pro-Biafra agitator Simon Ekpa by a Finnish court, describing the ruling as a major step in Nigeria’s ongoing fight against terrorism.
On September 1, the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland convicted Ekpa of inciting terrorist acts and associating with a terrorist group. The court found that between August 2021 and November 2024, he used his wide social media reach to promote violence and destabilisation in Nigeria’s South-East region.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the judgment marked “a major victory in the war against terror” in Nigeria.
Posting on X, he wrote: “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. A major victory for the Nigerian people in the collective fight against terror.”
Ekpa, a known disciple of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, played a central role in enforcing the sit-at-home orders that caused widespread disruption and deadly violence in the South-East. Civilians and security personnel were among those killed during the unrest. Though he briefly served as a broadcaster on Radio Biafra after Kanu’s extradition in 2021, Ekpa was later dismissed by IPOB for breaching its code of conduct, leading him to form his own faction.
Finnish authorities arrested him in November 2024 and charged him with spreading terrorist propaganda online. In March 2025, Nigeria formally designated him a “terrorism financier.”
In a detailed statement, the Federal Government described the ruling as a watershed moment for victims of IPOB-linked violence and a positive step in strengthening Nigeria-Finland relations. The government stressed that Ekpa’s actions had inflicted devastating harm, leaving families shattered, businesses destroyed, and entire communities forced to live under fear.
It praised the Finnish judiciary for upholding the rule of law and sending a strong signal to extremists that justice would eventually prevail. The Tinubu administration reaffirmed its determination to defend Nigeria’s sovereignty, safeguard lives, and mobilize diplomatic, military, and judicial resources to maintain peace and unity.
The government also urged those influenced by Ekpa’s ideology to renounce violence and embrace peace, warning that no progress could be achieved through division. It expressed gratitude to Nigeria’s armed forces, security agencies, intelligence services, and justice sector for their role in protecting the nation despite daunting challenges.
Calling the judgment a turning point, the Federal Government appealed to Nigerians at home and abroad to continue working together for unity, peace, and stability.
