Police: The Lahti suspect has no connections to terrorist organizations but suspected of promoting violence against civilians, authorities in South-East Nigeria
Yesterday’s arrests in Lahti are related to the preliminary investigation, where a Finnish citizen of Nigerian background born in the 1980s is suspected of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.
MTV Uutiset asked the head of the investigation of the case whether the man’s actions are suspected of having connections with terrorist organizations.
– In the ongoing preliminary investigation, there is currently no reason to suspect such a thing, crime commissioner Otto Hiltunen , the head of the investigation of the case , commented in an email to MTV Uutis.
Nigeria considers the detainee’s organization to be terrorists
One of those imprisoned yesterday is Simon Ekpa from Lahti , who was imprisoned for the most probable reasons on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.
Ekpa is a Nigerian-Finnish living in Lahti, a local politician representing the coalition and an entrepreneur. He leads the self-founded Biafra government in exile and the IPOB separatist movement, which is classified as a terrorist organization in Nigeria.
However, the organization has not been classified as a terrorist organization in, for example, the EU.
The group’s militants are accused of several killings and atrocities against civilians. Ekpa’s responsibility for violence against government representatives has also been discussed in the media.
Hiltunen himself does not comment on what kind of ideology he suspects is behind the suspected crimes, but says that the matter will be clarified in the preliminary investigation.
Suspected targets of incitement in Nigeria
The police said earlier that the man is suspected of promoting his efforts from Finland by means that have led to violence against civilians and authorities, as well as other crimes in the southeastern region of Nigeria. The man is suspected of having worked on social media, among other things.
The police currently suspect that the public appeals presented would have led, among other things, to violent crimes and crimes against property. At this stage, Hiltunen does not want to specify in more detail which authorities they have targeted.
Hiltuse was also asked if any act, which the man is suspected of inciting, took place
– Regarding this, the investigations are still in progress, Hiltunen states.
Four people are said to be suspected of financing a terrorist crime. At this stage of the investigation, Hiltunen does not want to reveal the amount of money they are suspected to have collected.
Hiltunen also says that the police has done and is doing international cooperation in the matter, but does not take a more specific position on the content of the cooperation.
