The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa on Thursday said, the arrest and detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Simon Ekpa in Finland was a welcome development.
He said, it’s a beginning of his journey to facing justice and expressed the belief that it will signal step to his extradition to Nigeria to face terrorism charges.
Ekpa is the self-acclaimed Minister of Biafra, a separatist group operating from his base in Finland and was on Thursday arrested by the Finnish security in connection with terrorism after an investigation that indicted him and four others.
In a statement on Thursday by the Director of Defence Information, Tukur Gusau, which was made available to journalists in Abuja, said, “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.
The statement said, the Chief of Defence Staff has always advocated for the arrest and extradition of Simon Ekpa, hence, the event of today in Finland was consonance with tackling global terrorism.
“We are delighted about his arrest and glad that the international community is partnering with Nigeria in our fight against terrorism,” he added.
The military, on March, declared 97 persons wanted for terrorism, violent extremism and secessionist threats against the country.
Among those declared wanted was Mr Ekpa, who is based in Finland but is believed to be behind the insecurity in the South-East region.
