By Kolawole Ojebisi
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has expressed hope that the government of Finland will heed Nigeria’s demand by extraditing factional leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Simon Ekpa, to his homeland to face justice.
Musa said this following Ekpa’s arrest in the European country on Thursday. He also expressed happiness with the arrest and detention of Ekpa who is believed to be behind the violence in the South East.
In a statement which the Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, issued on his behalf, on Thursday, Musa 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.”
Also, Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, said the CDS had always called for the arrest of Ekpa following his “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.
Recall that Ekpa is one of the 97 individuals declared wanted for terrorism, violent extremism and secessionist threats by the Defence Headquarters in March 2024.
Meanwhile the IPOB dissociated itself from the embattled Biafran separatist, asserting it had no relationship with him.
