Factional IPOB leader Ekpa released after police grilling

Police in Finland have released Simon Ekpa, a self-acclaimed disciple of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

His release came after he was grilled by the security agents.

He was arrested by the police from his residence in Lahti, Finland, on Thursday.

He was said to have been picked up just before he could grant a newspaper interview, a Finland-based newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat (HS), reported.

The platform also published a picture showing Ekpa being escorted by police officers from his residence.

Hours later, HS reported that the Finland-based Biafra agitator had been released by the police after hours of questioning.

Although Tommi Reen, an officer with the Central Criminal Police, did not state the identity of the suspect in custody, he confirmed the raid to HS.

Reen, however, said the suspect was released after a few hours of questioning, adding that investigation was ongoing.

“The person being questioned today is suspected of a crime. We will return to the title on Friday,” Reen was quoted as saying.

Ekpa recently declared that there would be no elections in the South-East of Nigeria.

Apart from the threat to elections, he had also insisted that people of the south-east region must observe sit-at-home every Monday to protest the detention of Kanu.

The sit-at-home directive has been reportedly linked to killings in the region.

However, the leadership of IPOB through its spokesperson, Emmanuel Powerful, had distanced the group from the sit-at-home order.