Finland Police have arrested and remanded Simon Ekpa, de facto Indigenous Peoples of Biafra leader, over his inciting of violence in the South-East.

A Helsinki-based newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat, reported the arrest and remand of Mr Ekpa and four others on Thursday.

The paper quoted the head of the investigation, crime commissioner Otto Hiltunen of the Central Criminal Police, as saying, “The police suspect that the man has promoted his efforts from Finland with means that have led to violence against civilians and authorities as well as other crimes in the region of South-Eastern Nigeria. The man has carried out this activity, among other things, on his social media channels.”

It added, “On Thursday, the district court ordered Simon Ekpa to be imprisoned with probable cause on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.”

A presidential spokesman said President Bola Tinubu has not been briefed about the development, noting that a statement would be issued as soon as the administration gets sufficient information.

Mr Ekpa took over as IPOB de facto leader after Nnamdi Kanu was arrested, charging IPOB militias to prosecute sit-at-home order in the South-East. 

Details shortly.