Abuja, Nigeria | Monday, September 1, 2025
The Nigerian Federal Government has issued a strong commendation to the Republic of Finland following the conviction and sentencing of Simon Ekpa, a prominent pro-Biafra separatist, for terrorism offences.
The landmark ruling was delivered on Monday by the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland, which sentenced Ekpa to six years in prison. The Nigerian government described the judgment as a “watershed moment” for bilateral relations and for the victims of violence in Nigeria’s southeastern region.
In a press statement signed by the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the government stated that the Finnish judiciary’s decision vindicates Nigeria’s long-standing position on Ekpa’s activities. The statement accused Ekpa of “reckless incitement and orchestration of violence” through the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) group, which it designated as a terrorist organization.
“For years, Ekpa’s reckless incitement… unleashed unspeakable pain: families shattered, businesses destroyed, children orphaned, and entire communities forced to live under fear,” the statement read. It further noted that “hundreds of lives were lost, and many more maimed” as a result of the violence linked to his broadcasts and directives from his base in Finland.
The government’s response underscores the administration’s firm stance on national security. “The Tinubu administration remains unshakable in its resolve to defend Nigeria’s sovereignty and protect the dignity of every citizen,” the Minister declared, emphasizing the commitment to use “every resource, diplomatic, military, and judicial, to preserve the peace, unity, and territorial integrity of our country.”
A direct appeal was also made to Ekpa’s followers: “We urge all those who, under the misguidance of Simon Ekpa and others, have taken up arms against their fatherland to immediately lay them down and embrace the path of peace.”
The statement concluded by extending “profound gratitude” to Nigeria’s security and intelligence agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Armed Forces, and the Nigeria Police, for their “sacrifices, courage, and commitment.”
This conviction is seen by Nigerian government as a significant diplomatic victory for Nigeria, which has repeatedly called on international partners to crack down on financiers and instigators of the group.
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