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Chief of Defence Staff, Musa: Arrest of Simon Ekpa Eases Tension in Southeast

Published by Tope Fakinlede on January 15th, 2025.

Chief of Defence Staff, Musa: Arrest of Simon Ekpa Eases Tension in Southeast

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has revealed that the arrest of Simon Ekpa, the Finland-based Biafra agitator, has significantly reduced tension in the Southeast region.

Musa made this statement on Tuesday while presenting the 2025 defence budget to the House of Representatives Committee on Defence. He highlighted that the arrest of Ekpa has contributed to the gradual decline of the sit-at-home protests in the region. He also mentioned that the ongoing Operation Udoka by the Defence Headquarters is helping to restore peace in the area.

Musa explained, “The arrest of Simon Ekpa has had a major impact in reducing tension. Additionally, through Operation Udoka, we are making progress by capturing key figures and ensuring peace is restored. The Monday sit-at-home is gradually fading away.”

He further emphasized the importance of local cooperation, noting, “We are also collaborating with political leaders in the region, as we recognize that local support is crucial. The terrain is challenging, but with joint efforts, we are seeing improvements.”

Musa also commended the efforts of security agencies in maintaining relative peace during the Christmas period, attributing the calm to proactive intelligence and planning.

“The military remains committed to non-kinetic approaches to addressing security challenges. Our strategy involves joint operations and synergy between forces to ensure continued peace,” he concluded.