Finnish police on Thursday released Nigerian Biafran separatist leader, Simon Ekpa, hours after he was arrested and questioned, Finnish news outlet Helsingin Sanoma(HS) has confirmed.
REPORT AFRIQUE earlier reported that authorities had arrested Mr. Ekpa in Lahti, Finland.
The Finnish Central Criminal Police confirmed Ekpa’s release on Thursday, according to HS reports.
The police claimed that its operation and subsequent arrest were 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.
EKPA is a local politician of the coalition in Finland. He is a member of the coalition council and represents his party in the public transport board of the Lahti region.
Ekpa is an influential player in the separatist movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and pushes for the independence of Biafra, located in southeastern Nigeria. He has called on people on social media to boycott Saturday’s presidential election in Nigeria.
The Nigerian government has declared the Biafra independence movement illegal.
