Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has said that the arrest of pro-Biafran agitator Simon Ekpa in Finland last November has brought relative peace to the Southeast.
Ekpa, who was taken into custody in November 2024 by Finnish authorities over terrorism-related offences, is still facing prosecution in the European country.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, General Musa noted that the arrest has had a direct impact on security in the region.
“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,” Musa said.
The CDS disclosed that Nigerian troops have intensified operations to track down Ekpa’s associates across Imo, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Abia states.
“We are going to go after the likes of him, wherever they are, and whatever it takes until we bring them down. 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 added.
Musa also described the recent arrest of Ansaru terrorist commanders as a major success, stressing that the feat was achieved through thorough planning by the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
“What has changed is that we have synergy with all the organisations… and that is why we have seen all the successes,” he said.
Looking ahead, the defence chief revealed that the Defence Headquarters will host an African Chiefs of Defence Staff conference starting Monday to strengthen continental cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
