The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has provided an update on the status of pro-Biafran agitator, Simon Ekpa, who was arrested in Finland in November 2024 on terrorism-related charges.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, August 21, the defence chief disclosed that Ekpa remains in the custody of Finnish authorities and is still facing prosecution.
General Musa explained that Ekpa’s arrest has had a noticeable impact on the security situation in Nigeria’s Southeast region.
According to him, the level of violence and unrest in the geopolitical zone has significantly reduced since the agitator’s detention last year.
“He is still undergoing prosecution in Finland, and we are hopeful,” Musa said.
“When we talked about him initially, many thought we were exaggerating. But since his arrest, the Southeast is getting better.”
The CDS further revealed that the Nigerian Armed Forces have intensified operations across the Southeast, targeting Ekpa’s loyalists and operatives believed to be destabilising the region.
Troops, he said, are currently conducting coordinated operations across Imo, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Abia States in a bid to apprehend his lieutenants.
“We are going to go after the likes of him, wherever they are and whatever it takes until we bring them down,” he vowed.
In addition to the crackdown on pro-Biafra elements, General Musa also highlighted the recent capture of key Ansaru terrorist commanders, describing it as a major breakthrough for Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts.
He noted that the operation was a product of thorough planning and collaboration involving the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy, and the Nigerian Air Force.
“What has changed is that we now have synergy with all the security organisations, and that is why we have recorded these successes,” the defence chief said.
He added that while the military may not publicise every operation, security forces are working relentlessly to identify and neutralise other terrorist and criminal networks across the country.
General Musa stressed that the successes recorded so far demonstrate the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation and the determination of the Nigerian military to restore peace and stability nationwide.