Simon Ekpa sabotaging our security efforts in Southeast, CDS tells Reps
By Emma Ogbuehi
The self-appointed Prime Minister of Biafra, Simon Ekpa, who lives in faraway Scandinavian nation of Finland, is a clog in the wheel of security in the Southeast.
This was the submission of Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, on Tuesday, November 21, when military chiefs briefed the House of Representatives on the security situation in the country.
Gen. Musa said the activities of Simon Ekpa, one of the leaders of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) currently hiding in Finland, were doing a lot of damage to the Southeast region of the country.
Gen. Musa, who alleged that Ekpa was being protected by Finland, said there was a need for the Nigerian government to engage the government of Finland and possibly invite its ambassador to Nigeria for briefing.
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The Defence Chief was speaking when he led other Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police to appear before the House of Representatives at the commencement of its sectoral debate.
He said while the military and other security agencies in the country were doing their very best to ensure that there was peace in the Southeast, the comments and activities of Ekpa were sabotaging such efforts.
He also disclosed that at the moment, about 140,000 terrorists have surrendered and are awaiting disarmament, while adding that there is no single Nigerian territory currently being occupied by Boko Haram insurgents.
General Christopher Gwabin Musa, Nigeria’s 18th Chief of Defence Staff, was appointed by President Bola Tinubu on June 19, 2023.
Simon Ekpa is one of the current leaders of the Biafra independence movement.
He is the self-designated Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE) organization. Ekpa stated in 2023 that “Biafra Republic Government In-Exile is registered, approved and legal. Agent of Nigeria, take note!”
He was made lead broadcaster for IPOB’s Radio Biafra after the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu.
However, Ekpa was not allowed to broadcast on radio by the IPOB leadership loyal to Kanu because he was accused of violating the rules of the organisation.