How IPOB factional leader Ekpa was arrested, released in Finland

A popular pro-Biafra separatist agitator, Simon Ekpa, was Thursday, arrested and released after hours of  questioning by Police in Finland, according to  Helsingin Sanomat (HS), the largest subscription newspaper in Finland.

Earlier in the day, Ekpa was escorted out of his apartment in Lahti by Finish policemen.

He was later released after the police allegedly arrested him for a suspected crime.

The Finnish Central Criminal Police has now confirmed Ekpa’s release on Thursday.

The police claimed Ekpa’s arrest was in connection with the ongoing preliminary investigation.

“The person being questioned today is suspected of a crime. We will return to the title on Friday,” Tommi Reen from the Central Criminal Police told HS during a phone interview.

The self-acclaimed disciple of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, had repeatedly ordered the people of the South-East to observe a sit-at-home and asked them to boycott the country’s general elections billed for Saturday.

Ekpa was arrested by Finnish police and taken to their facility for questioning, sources told Premium Times.

“Simon Ekpa has just been arrested because of the sit-at-home in the South-east. The (Finnish) police just took him away from his house now,” a member of Igbo Community in Finland, who asked not to be named, said.

A photograph of the pro-Biafra agitator being led out of his residence by a team of Finnish police circulated on social media.

When contacted on Thursday, Finland’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Leena Pylvänäinen, confirmed Mr. Ekpa’s arrest to Premium Times.

“Yes, it is our understanding, based on the news report by Helsingin Sanomat, that Mr. Ekpa was taken in for questioning earlier today from his home in Lahti,” Mrs. Pylvänäinen said in response to an enquiry by this newspaper.

The ambassador said although the Finnish police do not, as a matter of principle, give out information on the identities of persons being questioned, the viral photograph of Mr. Ekpa being led by a team of Finnish police has been verified by Helsingin Sanomat, a Finnish media outfit.

Ekpa’s arrest  came less than two weeks after the Nigerian government summoned the Finnish ambassador over threats by him to stop the general election in Nigeria’s south-east.

Troops

Similarly, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Thursday said troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH arrested one of the masterminds of the 28 March, 2022 terrorists’ attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train services at Damba community in Chikun local government area of Kaduna state.

The military high command also said following the operation, troops recovered the sum of five thousand Dollars ($5,000) as well as other currencies.

Director Defence Media Operations Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami stated in Abuja during a biweekly briefing on troops activities and operational successes at the various operational theaters within the 6 geo-political zones of the country.

According to the defence spokesperson, troops of the Joint Task Force, Operations HADIN KAI in the North East, SAFE HAVEN in the North Central and Operation HADARIN DAJI in the North West cumulatively neutralized 133 Boko Haram Terrorist/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists in different locations in the last two weeks.

He said: “Consequently, an air interdiction operation was carried out at the location. Feedback revealed that the airstrike dealt a massive blow on the terrorists as several of the terrorists were reported to have been neutralized including some of key commanders while others escaped with severe injuries.

“A similar operation was conducted at the Yuwe fishing pond area of Borno State, following the sighting of about 50 terrorists in the general area. The location was consequently bombarded with several of the terrorists neutralized in the strike.”

He added that troops also arrested 80 terrorists, their logistic suppliers, spies, informants and collaborators in different locations within the theatre.

“Items recovered from them include assorted arms and ammunition, clothing materials, medical supplies, large quantities of items suspected to be hard drugs, livestock, 138 jerry cans of PMS and other sundry items,” he said.

Speaking further, General Danmadami said troops also rescued 41 kidnapped civilians.

According to him, a total of 252 Boko Haram terrorist/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and members of their families comprising 24 male, 79 female and 150 children surrendered to troops at different locations within the theatre of operations.

He said all recovered items, rescued civilians, and apprehended suspects have been handed over to the appropriate authority for further action while surrendered Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists and members of their families were being profiled for further action.

DSS nabs 7, recovers gun, others

Also, as part of preparations for the general elections the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested seven suspects, recovered one grenade, one gun, one General-Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), 9,104 assorted ammunitions in six days during proactive and intelligence-led operations across states.

DSS Public Relations Officer (PRO) Dr Peter Afunanya disclosed this during a joint security press briefing on the 2023 general elections, Thursday at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.

The spokesperson disclosed that its personnel recovered dangerous weapons from a property along Airport Road, Nasarawa local government area of Kano.

Blueprint reports that the property belongs to Kano state chapter of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) which had accused the DSS of intimidating its members and carrying out raids on its campaign offices.

“To achieve the desired environment for the elections, the Service engaged in proactive and intelligence-led operations across the States. For instance, on February 22, 2023, the Service conducted a legally backed search operation on a property along Airport Road, Nasarawa LGA, Kano state.

“During the operation, it recovered dangerous weapons including a gun, daggers, swords, jack-knives from the said building. Therefore, the accusation that the Service intimidated a particular political party in that state is untrue; otherwise, how come those weapons were found there? Are those objects of violence campaign materials?

“Whether in Kano or elsewhere, the DSS has provided equal opportunities for all political parties to engage in their lawful activities. We can say this without any form of contradictions or equivocations.”

“On the same February 22, the Service arrested a gunrunner, Aliyu Yahaya, an associate of Kachalla Damina, a suspected bandit who operates around Dansadau, Zamfara state. Items recovered from Yahaya include: one GPMG Rifle; one chain of ammunition, 190 rounds of GMPG ammunition, 28 rounds of AK47 ammunition and one grenade. The suspect was going to deliver the armaments to Damina,” he said.

Similarly, “In Kaduna state, two arm couriers: Tukur Usman and Illiyasu Adamu were arrested at Chikun LGA, on February 20, 2023; 372 rounds of 7.62 X 39mm ammunition; 26 rounds of live ammunition for GPMG rifle were recovered from them.

The duo are suspected arm suppliers to bandits in Zamfara state.

“On February 17, at Asaba, Delta state, Fajuwon Isaac was arrested; 4,503 rounds of pump action rifle ammunition among others were recovered from him.

“On February 18, in Anambra state, the Service arrested the quartet of Sunday Muokwue, Oforjeri Osita, Ude Bernard John and Okechukwu Emeka; and recovered, among others, from them, 3,985 rounds of AK-47 ammunitions.

“These operations are a continuation of similar ones executed in December 2022 and January, 2023 during which suspects were arrested and arms and ammunition recovered across the geo-political zones of the country.”

Speaking on the security situation in Sagamu, Ogun state, the DSS said the Service was working with relevant agencies to bring those behind the violent protest to book, adding that all the suspects would be charged to court after due investigations.

While disclosing that the Service had consolidated its public communication platforms, the spokesperson said: “For ease of access, its website (www.dss.gov.ng) will remain interactive as ever; same with the email ([email protected]).  “Citizens and residents are at liberty to reach out to any of our offices nationwide. Open lines at the Headquarters are: +234 9153391309, +234 9153391310, +234 9088373514.

“The Service Command offices at the Local Government and State levels have been directed to assist the Police which is the lead Agency in the exercise to ensure adequate security.”

About Benjamin Samson and Chizoba Ogbeche Abuja

View all posts by Benjamin Samson and Chizoba Ogbeche Abuja →