Violent Biafra Agitation: “Ekpa Protected by Finland”, CDS Alleges, Tells Tinubu’s Govt What to Do
- Appearing before the house of representatives on Tuesday, November 21, the chief of defence staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, declared Simon Ekpa a menace to Nigeria
- Legit.ng reports that Ekpa is a controversial leader of a Nigerian secessionist movement based in Finland
- Musa said Finland must explain why it continues to protect the separatist leader, adding that the Finland Ambassador to Nigeria should be summoned to provide clarification on the stance of the European country's government
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9-year-experience covering public journalism
Awka, Anambra state - The chief of defence staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has said Simon Ekpa was being protected by Finland.
Ekpa is a self-acclaimed Biafra agitator, who brands himself as a disciple of the detained leader of the controversial Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Source: Twitter
'Biafra agitator, Ekpa, sabotaging our efforts' - CDS
There has been ceaseless agitation by IPOB proponents for an independent state of Biafra.
Ekpa had declared that elections in Nigeria would not be held in the entire south-east geopolitical zone and that there would be frequent sit-at-home exercise.
During a conference on a purported referendum in Finland in October, Ekpa declared that Biafra agitators "will burn Nigeria down."
Authorities in Nigeria have also linked perpetrators of mindless destructions and killings being experienced in the southeast region to Ekpa.
Speaking on efforts to tackle insecurity in the southeast, Musa blamed Ekpa, who he said is hampering security efforts in the region, The Nation reported.
The security chief stated that Leena Pylvänäinen, the Finland Ambassador to Nigeria, must be summoned by the Bola Tinubu administration to provide clarification on the stance of the Finnish government.
Furthermore, the CDS disclosed that at the moment, about 140,000 terrorists have surrendered and are awaiting disarmament.
Nigerian police: IGP wants improved welfare
Meanwhile, another service chief present at the national assembly to brief the federal lawmakers was the inspector general of police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun.
He also said he met a “battered” force when he assumed office earlier this year (2023).
His words:
"Unfortunately, we met on the ground a police force that had been battered.
”A police force that has suffered serious neglect over the past few years."
One after the other, the security chiefs took turns to inform the lawmakers of their activities while they sought parliamentarians' all-round support, a report by Television Continental noted.
Biafra Nations League founder reacts
Reacting to the CDS's stance on Ekpa, Princewill Chimezie Richards, founder of the Biafra Nations League (BnL), strongly disagreed with him.
Richards told Legit.ng:
"How can Biafra activities become major menace in Nigeria? You see how they hate our people? He left bandits, Boko Haram terrorists, ISWAP insurgents, and his nightmare is Biafra and Simon Ekpa.
"Let them go to Finland and arrest him. If Finnish government is backing him (Ekpa), it is because they respect the rule of law. The arrest of Nnamdi Kanu is an eye opener. Simon won't visit any African country for now."
Ekpa arrested in Finland
In February, Legit.ng reported that Ekpa was arrested by Finland authority.
His arrest was confirmed by HS, a new outlet in Finland.
It was learnt that the police in the country led the seperatist out of his apartment in Lahti.
The separatist is a Finnish citizen of Nigerian origin and has been social media platforms to push his controversial agenda.
Ekpa released by Finnish authorities
Legit.ng also updated Nigerians on Ekpa's release.
The separatist was released after being interrogated by security agents for more than four hours.
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Source: Legit.ng
