Nigerian government sustained diplomatic pressure led to arrest of Simon Ekpa, says foreign affairs ministry
The sustained diplomatic pressure by the Nigerian government on Finnish authorities has contributed to the arrest of Simon Ekpa the pro-Biafra agitator, heads Autopilot, a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Penpushing reports that the spokesperson of Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, disclosed this in a statement adding that the request for action from the Nigerian government featured during high level engagements between countries.
‘The arrest of Mr Simon Njoku Ekpa follows sustained diplomatic pressure by the Nigerian government on Finland, to take action against his activities, which were linked to violence and instability in the South-east of Nigeria’, Ebienfa said.
Penpushing further reports that Ebienfa said the ministry is monitoring legal proceedings against Ekpa, and believes that Ekpa’s arrest was a significant development in addressing the activities of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
‘We’re monitoring legal proceedings against Ekpa. The ministry believes that Ekpa’s arrest was a significant development in addressing the activities of IPOB and neutralising the influence of transnational actors and their impact on our national security. The ministry will continue to monitor the legal proceedings and provide further updates as the case progresses,” he stated.
Penpushing also reports that it is recalled that Ekpa was arrested alongside four others on Thursday on suspicion of terrorist activities by the Finnish police which noted that said Ekpa has contributed to violence and crimes against civilians in South-Eastern Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, the pro-Biafra agitator, a Nigerian-Finnish citizen, heads Autopilot, a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) a group leading agitation for an independent state of Biafra which it wants carved out from the South-East.
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