The Federal Government said the judgement of the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland, which on Monday sentenced Simon Ekpa, a self-styled pro-Biafra agitator, to six years’ imprisonment for terrorism offences, has vindicated its position on Ekpa’s extremism.
Minister of Information and National Orientation Alhaji Mohammed Idris, in a statement, described the judgement as a watershed moment, “not only for the countless innocent Nigerians whose lives and livelihoods have been brutally disrupted by the reign of terror incited and financed by Ekpa and his collaborators, but also for the strengthening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and Finland.”
Alhaji Idris noted that for years, Ekpa’s reckless incitement and orchestration of violence through the Indigenous People’s Of Biafra (IPOB) terror activities unleashed unspeakable pain on families.
He stated that many businesses have been destroyed, children orphaned, and entire communities forced to live under fear.
“Hundreds of lives were lost, and many more maimed, in pursuit of a destructive and unlawful agenda that sought to undermine the peace, unity, and sovereignty of our nation,” the minister said.
Alhaji Idris added that the judgement is a warning to extremists everywhere in the world that justice will catch up with those who seek to destabilise societies through terror.
He assured that President Bola Tinubu administration remains unshakable in its resolve to defend Nigeria’s sovereignty and protect the dignity of every citizen.
“We will continue to mobilise every resource, diplomatic, military, and judicial, to preserve the peace, unity, and territorial integrity of our country,” he said.
He urged those who, like Simon Ekpa, have taken up arms against their fatherland to immediately lay them down and embrace the path of peace.
“Nigeria is big enough for all its people, but there can be no progress where violence and division prevail,” he said.
The minister Federal Government expressed its profound gratitude to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigerian Armed Forces, the security and intelligence agencies, and the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Nigeria Police, whose sacrifices, courage, and commitment, he said, continue to secure the country in the face of daunting challenges.
“Their service and the resilience of the Nigerian people remain the backbone of our enduring unity.
“As we mark this turning point, the Federal Government enjoins all Nigerians, at home and abroad, to work together for national unity, peace, and security of the country,” the minister added.
