Simon Ekpa, the self-acclaimed leader of the “autopilot” faction of the IPOB, has been arrested by Finish authorities on allegations of terrorism financing.
Ekpa who has been inciting violence and other terror related activities was arrested alongside four other persons.
According to a Finish newspaper, Yle, Siomon Ekpa has been remanded in custody by the Päijät-Häme District Court on charges of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.
Yle reported that the Finnish Central Criminal Police confirmed the arrests in a statement on Thursday, noting that the other suspects were apprehended for allegedly financing terrorist activities.
According to Finish Police, “The detention demands are related to a preliminary investigation in which a Finnish citizen of Nigerian descent, born in the 1980s, is suspected of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.”
According to the leader of the investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Otto Hiltunen, “The man has carried out this activity, among other things, on his social media channels.”
The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation disclosed that Ekpa, alongside the other suspects, two of whom reside in Helsinki, faces charges of financing terrorism