Simon Ekpa: Inside Finland’s Toughest Prison Where Biafra Leader Faces Terrorism Charges

 

Simon Ekpa, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is being held in Kylmäkoski prison in Finland, one of the toughest prisons in the world. The prison is located in Akaa, Finland. Ekpa was arrested along with four others on charges related to terrorism, including encouraging violence and financing terrorism. Finnish authorities say he used social media to incite violence in southeastern Nigeria, targeting both civilians and government officials.

The Finnish authorities have also frozen Ekpa's assets and those of his associates. He is currently held in Kylmäkoski prison, where he was remanded after being charged with inciting crimes with terrorist intent. The prison is known for housing serious criminals, including violent offenders and sex offenders.

Kylmäkoski prison, built in 1993, is the largest closed-unit prison in Finland, housing 113 inmates. It has been featured in a Netflix documentary, "Inside the World’s Toughest Prisons," which showed the harsh realities of life in the facility. The documentary highlighted the violent histories of some of the inmates, and the strict rules, including how drugs play a key role in the prison’s power dynamics.

Inmates at Kylmäkoski prison are known for their violent actions, with many having committed crimes under the influence of drugs. Prisoners often smuggle in drugs like subutex and cocaine, which cause additional challenges for the prison system.

The prison also faces other issues, such as smuggling and inappropriate behavior among staff. In 2023, a female guard was fired for having inappropriate relationships with inmates. There have also been instances of prisoners tricking the staff to escape or gain privileges.

Unlike open prisons in Finland, where inmates have more freedom, Kylmäkoski is a closed prison. Inmates are strictly monitored, and they are not allowed to touch visitors or send messages without permission. Violating these rules can result in punishment.

Ekpa is scheduled to face trial in May 2025. Finnish law does not allow him to be released on bail during the investigation. According to Finnish legal procedures, remand imprisonment is not a punishment but a measure to ensure the investigation and trial process, and to prevent the suspect from committing further crimes.