Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed factional leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been sentenced to six years imprisonment by a Finnish court.
According to reports by Yle, a Finnish newspaper, Ekpa was convicted on terrorism-related charges and public incitement to violence.
The judgment was delivered by a three-member panel of the Päijät-Häme District Court, which found him guilty of being actively involved in a terrorist organisation and of encouraging crimes committed for terrorist purposes.
Ekpa, who has been a vocal figure in the Biafra separatist movement, has repeatedly called for violent resistance in Nigeria’s southeast region. His activities, especially through online broadcasts, have been linked to unrest and violent attacks in parts of the region.
The Finnish court stated that his actions constituted a serious threat to public order and security, hence the six-year jail term.
Ekpa’s sentencing marks a significant development in the international dimension of Nigeria’s secessionist agitation.
