The tension in Nigeria’s Southeast region has significantly eased following the arrest of Finland-based Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa.
This was disclosed by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, during his appearance before the House of Representatives Committee on Defence on Tuesday to defend the 2025 budget.
General Musa noted that Ekpa’s arrest has contributed to a decline in the enforcement of the sit-at-home orders that had previously disrupted activities in the region. He credited the military’s ongoing Operation Udoka, initiated by the Defence Headquarters, as a key effort in restoring peace to the Southeast.
Speaking on the situation, Musa said:
“With the arrest of Simon Ekpa, tension has greatly reduced. Through Operation Udoka, we have been apprehending leaders involved in instigating unrest and ensuring the region becomes more peaceful. The sit-at-home on Mondays is gradually fading.”
He emphasized the importance of collaboration with local political leaders to sustain peace, particularly given the challenging terrain in the Southeast. He added:
“We understand the need for local support because, without it, achieving lasting peace is difficult. Working together is yielding positive results.”
General Musa highlighted that proactive measures taken by security forces ensured relative peace during the last Christmas holiday. He attributed this to enhanced intelligence gathering and joint operations among security agencies.
“We worked ahead using intelligence to maintain peace, especially during the festive period. Our goal is to encourage jointness and synergy in all operations to address security challenges comprehensively,” he said.
The Defence Chief reiterated the military’s commitment to non-kinetic approaches to solving security problems in the Southeast. He emphasized the importance of balancing military operations with dialogue and community engagement to address underlying issues.
The gradual restoration of normalcy in the Southeast reflects the impact of coordinated security efforts and local collaboration, offering hope for a sustained resolution to the region’s challenges.
