Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has confirmed that pro-Biafran agitator Simon Ekpa, who was taken into custody in Finland in November 2024 over terrorism-related allegations, is still facing trial in that country.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, General Musa noted that Ekpa’s arrest has contributed to a noticeable calm across the Southeast. “He (Ekpa) is still undergoing prosecution in Finland. So, we are hopeful. When we talked about him, people thought we were making noise, but since he has been arrested, the Southeast is getting better,” he said.
According to him, the military has launched operations to dismantle Ekpa’s network across the five Southeastern states—Imo, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Abia. “We are going to go after the likes of him, wherever they are, and whatever it takes until we bring them down,” Musa vowed.
The defence chief also highlighted the significance of the recent capture of Ansaru terrorist leaders, describing it as a major success for the armed forces. “That’s why the Ansaru (leaders’ arrest) is a good win for all of us. There are other ones we don’t talk about, we will also look at them and pull them out,” he said.
He attributed the successful operation against Ansaru commanders to joint planning and coordination among the different branches of the military. “What has changed is that we have synergy with all the organisations… and that is why we have seen all the successes,” Musa explained.
Looking ahead, the CDS disclosed that the Defence Headquarters will host a conference of African Chiefs of Defence Staff starting Monday to strengthen continental cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
