Simon Ekpa, IPOB leader and self-styled Biafra Prime Minister, is detained in Finland's Kylmäkoski maximum-security prison on terrorism charges. Arrested for inciting violence in Nigeria, Ekpa faces trial in May 2025 after Finland froze his assets.
Simon Ekpa, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and self-declared Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, is being held at Kylmäkoski prison, a maximum-security facility in Finland. Known for housing the country’s most violent offenders, the prison enforces stringent regulations to ensure security.
Ekpa was arrested alongside four associates on suspicion of inciting violence and financing terrorism. Finnish authorities allege he used social media to promote violent acts targeting civilians and officials in Nigeria’s South-East region. Following his arrest, Finland froze his assets and those of related businesses.
The Päijät-Häme District Court remanded Ekpa on charges of public incitement to commit terrorist acts. According to Finland’s legal framework, remand imprisonment is a preventive measure to restrict suspects from interfering with investigations. Due to the gravity of the charges, Ekpa was denied bail.
Kylmäkoski prison, featured in the Netflix documentary Inside the World’s Toughest Prisons, is notorious for strict confinement and housing dangerous criminals. Its regime includes controlled communication, restricted movement, and stringent visitation rules.
Ekpa is scheduled for trial in May 2025. If convicted, his remand status will transition to a formal sentence. Finnish authorities emphasize the need for comprehensive procedures in handling cases involving terrorism-related charges.
