The Central Criminal Police in Finland has announced the arrest of Finnish-Nigerian separatist agitator, Simon Ekpa and four other individuals over terror-related activities.

According to a tabloid in Finland, Ekpa, the self-declared Prime Minister of Biafra Republic Government In-Exile, was remanded in custody by the district court of Päijät-Häme on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.

In a Thursday statement published on its website, the Central Criminal Police in Finland said it arrested five persons on suspicion of terrorist crimes.

The police said the main suspect was arrested “on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent”, while four others were arrested “for financing a terrorist crime”.

The police added: “Claims will be heard in Päijät-Häme district court today, November 21.”

The statement reads, “The detention demands are related to the preliminary investigation, in which a Finnish citizen of Nigerian background, born in the 1980s, is suspected of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.

“The police suspect that the man has promoted his efforts from Finland by means that have led to violence against civilians and authorities as well as other crimes in the region of South-Eastern Nigeria.”

The statement quoted the head of the investigation, Crime Commissioner Otto Hiltunen from the Central Crime Police as saying that “the man has carried out this activity, among other things, on his social media channels”.

“Four other persons are suspected of financing the aforementioned activity. All five suspects of the crime have been arrested during the beginning of the week.

“International cooperation has been carried out during the preliminary investigation,” the statement added.

A lawyer, Mike Ofikwu, has been shot dead by gunmen in Otukpo town, Benue State.

The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday night at his residence on Otukpa Street, Otukpo.

A source close to the deceased, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the lawyer was ambushed by two armed men while waiting for his gate to be opened.

“Two armed men had laid an ambush for him. As he was waiting for his people to open the gate, the assailants emerged from hiding and shot him at a close range,” the source said.

The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital, but medical personnel pronounced him dead on arrival.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, Catherine Anene, said an investigation was underway to apprehend those responsible for the attack.

“This incident is confirmed, and investigations are ongoing. I commiserate with his family and friends and assure them that justice will be served,” Anene said in a brief statement.