Finnish authorities have frozen the assets of Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed Biafran agitator accused of terrorism-related activities. Local newspaper Yle reported that the Finnish government also seized assets linked to companies associated with Ekpa and four of his accomplices, who are currently in remand.
Ekpa is being held at Kylmäkoski Prison (Kylmäkoski vankila), a maximum-security facility recognized as one of the world’s toughest prisons. Established in January 1993 in the Kylmäkoski municipality, the prison houses individuals convicted of severe crimes, including violent offenders and sex criminals.
With 113 inmates, the facility is Finland’s largest closed-unit prison. It gained international attention in 2023 when featured in Netflix’s Inside the World’s Toughest Prisons. Journalist Raphael Rowe documented his time inside the prison, interviewing notorious inmates like Toni and Olli, who exhibited no remorse for their violent actions. Rowe also uncovered issues such as drug smuggling—cocaine, amphetamines, and the Finnish drug Subutex—along with the illicit entry of cell phones. A prison officer described managing violent, drug-affected inmates as a significant challenge.
Ekpa was remanded on November 21 after being arrested by Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on charges of spreading terrorist propaganda via social media. The Päijät-Häme District Court ordered his detention alongside four others accused of terrorism-related offenses.
As the self-styled Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile, Ekpa allegedly orchestrated the crimes in 2021 from Lahti municipality. He is accused of inciting violence and promoting terrorism in Nigeria’s southeastern region through his online activities.
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Opeoluwa Benson – Content Researcher
