FG Hails Finland Over Simon Ekpa’s Terrorism Conviction

The Federal Government has applauded the conviction of Simon Ekpa, a Finland-based self-acclaimed pro-Biafra agitator, who was on Monday sentenced to six years in prison by the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland for terrorism offences.

In a statement issued by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the government described the ruling as a “watershed moment” for victims of violence allegedly incited and sponsored by Ekpa, and for Nigeria’s bilateral relations with 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,” the statement read.

Idris noted that the judgment vindicates Nigeria’s longstanding position that Ekpa was directly responsible for the violence in the South-East, adding that it also sends a strong message to extremists across the world that justice will eventually catch up with those who seek to destabilize societies through terror.

The minister reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and protecting citizens, stressing that the government would continue to deploy diplomatic, military, and judicial measures to safeguard peace and national unity.

He also appealed to individuals influenced by Ekpa’s agitation to lay down their arms and embrace peace, assuring that Nigeria is big enough for all its people but cannot progress under violence and division.

The statement further commended the efforts of the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Armed Forces, security agencies, the Ministry of Justice, and the Nigeria Police for their sacrifices and resilience in securing the country.

The Federal Government urged Nigerians at home and abroad to rally around the common goal of national unity, peace, and security.