The Nigerian government has been urged to take decisive action, including exploring diplomatic options, to address the threat posed by the factional leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Simon Ekpa. “We have repeatedly complained about Simon Ekpa. He is in Finland, and the Finnish Government is giving him all the support, enabling his actions,” a source stated.
“The comments he makes result in people being killed, yet nothing is done. This is democracy. If the European Union supports democracy and allows this without taking action, then they don’t mean well for Nigeria. We have made this clear. We need to find diplomatic means to stop him. He must be arrested and prosecuted. If he were in Nigeria doing this to the Finnish government, do you think the European Union would allow it? Certainly not.”
In addition to discussing Simon Ekpa, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) highlighted the military’s deradicalization initiative for repentant terrorists in the North-East, noting its effectiveness. “It is working very well. I was the commander when it started, and we initiated every process in collaboration with the state, which had the authority on the ground,” he explained.
“Before the initiative began and individuals were willing to surrender, the state governments took the lead, and we followed up. Those who surrendered first approached the nearest security forces, were disarmed, and then profiled by the DSS. The state government handled the administration of these individuals, taking them to their respective camps. We were able to separate combatants from those who were forced into labor.”
The CDS emphasized that the main operators were kept separately and worked alongside the victims. The Operation Safe Corridor is a program introduced under former President Muhammadu Buhari to facilitate the deradicalization and reintegration of former terrorists.