The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has expressed happiness with the arrest and detention of the factional leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Simon Ekpa by the Finnish authority.
The Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
CDS is happy with his arrest in Finland, with the hope this will be a step towards his extradition to Nigeria so that he will face justice,” he said.
Also, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, said the CDS had always called for the arrest of Simon Ekpa following is deep involvement in fueling terrorism in South East Nigeria.
“We are delighted about his arrest, and glad that the international community is partnering with Nigeria in our fight against terrorism,” he added.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the military on March, declared 97 persons wanted for terrorism, violent extremism and secessionist threats against the country.
Among those declared wanted is Simon Ekpa, who is based in Finland but is believed to be behind the insecurity in the South-east region
The news of Ekpa’s arrest in Finland broke on Thursday quoting Finnish local newspapers.
Meanwhile, IPOB denied any relationship with Ekpa, saying it had publicly asked the people and relevant authorities to stop linking it with the embattled Biafran agitator.
Reacting to the arrest of Ekpa by the Finnish authorities, IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, maintained that his organisation had nothing to do with Ekpa and his group, Autopilot.
He said, “We are not interested in his arrest. All we want is for the release of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who has not committed any offence and who has been freed by the law courts. That is our concern.
“We have reiterated on several occasions that the Ekpa had no relationship with the IPOB from the formation to date and he had nothing in common with the Biafra struggle.
“For a long time, IPOB has maintained that there is nothing like autopilot in IPOB. More so, the criminal gang leader in Finland has no relationship with ESN from the formation of ESN to date or with IPOB. The authorities should stop linking IPOB with Ekpa and his group and IPOB is not interested in his arrest or whatever.”
“All we want is for the Nigerian government to release our leader who has been detained for no known crime other than fighting for the liberation of his people.”
