After the arrest and detention of Biafra separatist Simon Ekpa in Finland, a claim spread on Facebook suggesting that the Finnish authorities did not arrest Ekpa, but instead took him into protective custody to shield him from potential assassins.
One such Facebook post reads:
I WAS THE FIRST HUMAN BEING TO EXPOSE THE TRUTH TO THE WHOLE WORLD THAT P.M SIMON EKPA WAS NEVER ARRESTED OR IN PRISON, AN INTEL’S POPPED UP ABOUT THE ASSASSINATION OF THE P.M SIMON EKPA AND THE WAY IT WAS SET P.M CAN NEVER ESCAPE IT, AND IT WAS SET TO HAPPEN ON FIRST OF DEC, OF WHICH WE ALL KNOW THAT ON THE SECOND IS THE DAY FIXED FOR THE DECLARATION, SO THREE SUICIDE BOMBER HAVE ALREADY GET PREPARED, BUT IAM SMARTER THAN THE ENTIRE NIGERIA, I SEND THOSE INTEL’S TO THE RIGHTFUL AUTHORITY, TO DO WHAT THEY CAN TO PROTECT EKPA WITH ALL IT WILL TAKE.
The claim can also be found here and here. (Note: See more instances listed at the end of the report.)
Ekpa, a Finnish citizen of Nigerian descent, is a prominent advocate for Biafra’s independence.
He claims the title of Prime Minister of the self-declared Biafran Republic Government in Exile.
Biafra, a region in southeastern Nigeria, declared independence in 1967, sparking a brutal civil war that lasted until 1970, when the region was reintegrated into Nigeria. However, calls for the restoration of Biafra continue to resonate among some groups.
On November 21, 2024, Ekpa was arrested by Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), along with four other individuals, in connection with alleged involvement in violent attacks on civilians and security forces in southeastern Nigeria.
The Paijat-Hame district court in Finland has remanded Ekpa in custody, and he is expected to face terrorism charges for allegedly using social media to incite violence in the region.
Is it true that Finnish authorities did not arrest Ekpa? We checked.
Contrary to the claim, the media extensively covered Ekpa’s arrest by Finnish authorities and his subsequent imprisonment.
There is clear evidence that he is currently being held at Kylmäkoski prison in Finland.
Additionally, as investigations progressed, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) froze Ekpa’s assets, along with those of other suspects.
Ekpa and his co-accused will remain in custody until May 2025, when they are scheduled to appear in court to face potential charges.
There is no evidence to support the assertion that Ekpa has not been arrested or is not in prison. This claim is false.
The false claim was also posted here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here.
Credit: Africa Check
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