FG Hails Finland Over Simon Ekpa’s Conviction for Terrorism

T The Federal Government has commended the judgment of the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland, which on Monday sentenced Simon Ekpa, a self-styled pro-Biafra agitator, to six years’ imprisonment for terrorism-related offences.

In a statement on Monday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the ruling as a watershed moment—not only for countless Nigerians whose lives and livelihoods were disrupted by the violence incited and financed by Ekpa and his associates, but also for the deepening of bilateral ties between Nigeria and Finland.

“For several years, through the activities of Ekpa, hundreds of lives were lost and many more maimed in pursuit of a destructive and unlawful agenda that sought to undermine the peace, unity, and sovereignty of our nation,” the minister stated.

He added that the ruling affirmed Nigeria’s consistent position on the matter and sent “a clear signal to extremists everywhere that the world is watching, and justice will eventually catch up with those who seek to destabilize societies through terror.”

The minister further stressed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration remains resolute in defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and protecting the dignity of every citizen, pledging that government will continue to deploy diplomatic, military, and judicial resources to preserve peace, unity, and territorial integrity.

Idris also urged those who, under the influence of Ekpa and others, had taken up arms against Nigeria to lay them down and embrace peace.

The Federal Government expressed gratitude to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigerian Armed Forces, intelligence agencies, the Federal Ministry of Justice, and the Nigeria Police for their sacrifices and commitment in safeguarding the country despite enormous challenges.