Following the arrest of the Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa, in Finland the Federal Government is considering application to the finish authority for his extradition to come and face charges in Nigeria for instigating the Eastern Security Network, ESN to reign terror on Nigeria. Director of Defence Information, Brig Gen Tukur Gusau, made this known yesterday Thursday, saying Ekpa, a self-proclaimed disciple of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, should be extradited to Nigeria to face criminal charges.
After unleashing terror against Nigerians especially those in the southeast through the ESN, many Nigerians online has also throw their weight behind the Military call demanding his repatriation to Nigeria to face terrorism charges.
Although the IPOB dissociated itself from Ekpa, signifying that he is only controlling the ESN asserting he had no relationship with them.
Ekpa is amongst the 97 individuals declared wanted by the Defence Headquarters in March 2024, for criminal charges and terror against Nigerians.
The Finland-based Biafran agitator is a close ally of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is presently facing terrorism charges, treasonable felony, and inciting violence through his Radio Biafra, amongst others.
Nnamdi Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services since 2021 when he was extradited from Kenya and brought back to Nigeria.
A presidential spokesman, Daniel Bwala, has revealed that President Bola Tinubu and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, are yet to be briefed on the arrest of Ekpa.
Bwala said, “The procedure is that the (Nigerian) Embassy in Finland has to have the information and it would brief the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the minister might brief the NSA or the President’’.
Relaying why the finish authority through Finland’s Central Criminal Police arrested him yesterday, Ekpa was arrested alongside four others on charges bordering on terrorism.
It was learned that the District Court of Päijät-Häme, Finland, ordered that Ekpa be imprisoned “with probable cause on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.”
Speaking on the development in a statement yesterday, Gusau said the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Chris Musa, was pleased with the trial of the ESN leader.
Gusau 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.”
Ekpa, a Finnish citizen of Nigerian origin, was accused of inciting crimes with terrorist intent, while the other suspects face charges of financing terrorism.
He was arrested in February 2023 for his inciting comments and sit-at-home orders to the people of the South-East.
Before his arrest, thousands of Nigerians worldwide signed a petition appealing to the Finnish and Nigerian governments and the European Union to arrest Ekpa.
He had asked the people to boycott the 2023 general poll, insisting there would be no election in the region.
Worried by his activities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Leena Pylvanainen, over his threats to stop the 2023 general election in the South-East.
The ministry sought the Finnish government’s cooperation to arrest Ekpa over threats to disrupt the exercise.
As part of an international investigation, the Finnish police confirmed on Thursday that Ekpa and his accomplices were arrested earlier this week.
Ekpa, who parades himself as the “Prime Minister” of the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, is alleged to have used social media platforms to promote violent activities in the South-East, including attacks on civilians and authorities.