The Defenec Headquarters has called for the extradition of the factional leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Simon Ekpa, who heads IPOB’s militia wing the Eastern Security Network.
The Director of Defence Information, Brig Gen Tukur Gusau, who stated this on Thursday said Ekpa should be extradited to Nigeria to face criminal charges.
Speaking on the development in a statement on Thursday, Gusau said the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Chris Musa, was pleased with the trial of the ESN leader.
Gusau wrote, “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.”
Gen. Musa had severally called for Ekpa’s arrest, accusing him of sponsoring terrorism in the South-East.
The director of Defence Information,Major General Edward Buba said the military was glad that the international community was supporting the country in its fight against terrorism.
He stated, “The CDS has always called for the arrest of Simon Ekpa following his deep involvement in fuelling terrorism in SE Nigeria. We are delighted about his arrest, and glad that the international community is partnering with Nigeria in our fight against terrorism.”
Gen Buba, said the military was pleased with the news of Ekpa’s arrest and prosecution too.
In another development, presidential spokesman, Daniel Bwala, said President Bola Tinubu and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, were yet to be briefed on the arrest of Ekpa.
“The procedure is that the (Nigerian) Embassy in Finland has to have the information and it would brief the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the minister might brief the NSA or the President,’’ he explained.
Ekpa and four others were arrested in Finland on charges related to terrorism, Finland’s Central Criminal Police said in a statement on Thursday.
However, the IPOB said it has nothing to do with Ekpa, who is one of the 97 suspects wanted by the Defence Headquarters in March 2024.
The Biafran agitator is a close ally of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is being tried for terrorism, treasonable felony, and inciting violence through his Radio Biafra, amongst others.
He has been in the custody of the Department of State Services since 2021 when he was arrested in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria.
