Nigerian authorities have announced plans to request the extradition of a controversial leader of a banned separatist movement following his arrest in Finland on terrorism charges.

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Simon Ekpa, a Finnish national of Nigerian descent, claims to lead a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) from exile—a group pushing for the creation of a breakaway state in Nigeria's south-east.

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Officials in Nigeria allege that Ekpa has used social media platforms to incite violence and are determined to bring him to justice.

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Ekpa has denied involvement in the recent wave of violence in south-eastern Nigeria, a region with a history of civil war dating back to the late 1960s.

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Identifying himself as the "prime minister" of the self-declared Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, Ekpa maintains ties to Ipob.

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Despite his claims, Ipob, banned in Nigeria, has publicly distanced itself from Ekpa.

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Earlier this year, the Nigerian army listed Ekpa and 96 others as wanted for terrorism, extremism, and advocating secession.

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Residing in Lahti, Finland, Ekpa also serves as a representative for Finland's National Coalition Party, as reported by AFP.

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Finnish investigators revealed that Ekpa had incited violence in south-east Nigeria while operating from Finland, leveraging his social media presence.

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Otto Hiltunen, head of the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation, said Ekpa's activities had included incitement against civilians and authorities in Nigeria.

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Authorities noted the case involved international collaboration, though they did not confirm Nigeria's direct involvement.

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Four individuals were also detained on suspicion of financing Ekpa’s operations.

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It remains unclear if Nigeria has formally submitted an extradition request, but officials have expressed confidence that Ekpa will face trial in the country.

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Dada Olusegun, a special assistant to President Tinubu, took a jab at Ekpa’s self-proclaimed title, posting on X: "Thank you Finland. See you soon Prime Minister."

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The Nigerian army celebrated Ekpa’s arrest, hailing it as a significant step in combating terrorism.

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Army spokesperson Tukur Gusau said the military was optimistic about Ekpa’s extradition, while Defence Media Director Edward Buba thanked the international community for its cooperation.

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Previous efforts to extradite Ekpa have been unsuccessful.

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In February, Finnish authorities briefly detained Ekpa after he threatened to disrupt Nigeria's elections, but he was released following interrogation.

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At the time, the Nigerian army accused Finland and the EU of shielding Ekpa, though Finnish officials insisted on respecting his rights as a citizen.

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Ekpa has garnered significant support in parts of south-east Nigeria, a region long plagued by unrest stemming from clashes between Ipob and security forces.

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He has repeatedly called for sit-at-home protests against the Nigerian government, amplifying his influence in the region.

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Ekpa gained notoriety in 2021 when he announced on Facebook that Ipob leader Nnamdi Kanu had tasked him with broadcasting on Radio Biafra.

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Kanu has been detained since 2021 after being captured in Kenya and extradited to Nigeria.

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Founded in 2012 as a non-violent movement, Ipob formed an armed wing in 2020, claiming it aimed to defend the Igbo ethnic group, though critics accuse it of perpetuating violence and suffering.

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A Nigerian court has officially classified Ipob as a terrorist organization.

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