CITIZENS COMPASS– THE authorities in Finland have arrested Simon Ekpa, leader of a breakaway faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) known as IPOB Autopilot.
Ekpa was picked up from his apartment in Lahti Region of Finland by officers from the Finnish Central Criminal Police on Thursday morning, though details of his arrest were still sketchy at the time of filing this report.
A self acclaimed follower of Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB leader, Ekpa has been using his social media accounts to issue countless sit-at-home orders and incite violence in the Southeast of Nigeria.
He had recently declared that there would be no election in the Southeast zone, and in the lead up to the election gunmen suspected to be loyal to him have been attacking and killing political figures in the zone, as well as destroying offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission and police stations.
On Wednesday night for instance, gunmen killed the Labour Party senatorial candidate for Enugu East, Mr. Oyibo Chukwu, and five of his supporters.
The gunmen also on the same Wednesday, attacked the campaign convoy of Offorchukwu Egbo, a house of representatives candidate in the same zone, killing his driver.
Both incidents have been hailed by known supporters of Ekpa on social media.
His action has instilled fear in travellers and resulted in panic among residents of the South East.
Recall that some secondary school students were forced out of classrooms and disallowed from e examinations as some IPOB members took to the streets enforcing the Sit-at-home order.
Many political gatherings have Bern disrupted and property were set ablaze by hoodlums claiming toe IPOB agitators.
Quite a number of security operatives have been sent to their early grave following series of attacks that were fuelled by some IPOB members.
