FG Commends Finland Over Jailing Of Simon Ekpa For Terrorism
The Federal Government has commended Finland following the conviction of Simon Ekpa, a self-styled pro-Biafra agitator, who was on Monday sentenced to six years’ imprisonment by the Päijät-Häme District Court for terrorism offences.
Describing the ruling as a “watershed moment”, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the judgment vindicated Nigeria’s long-held position that Ekpa’s incitement and sponsorship of violent attacks under the banner of IPOB caused untold suffering in the South-East.
“For years, his reckless actions shattered families, destroyed businesses, orphaned children, and left entire communities in fear,” Idris said in a statement on Monday, stressing that hundreds of Nigerians lost their lives to the violence.
The minister noted that the Finnish verdict not only strengthens bilateral ties between Nigeria and Finland but also sends a strong message to extremists worldwide that justice will catch up with those who attempt to destabilise societies through terror.
He reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty, preserving its unity, and protecting citizens through diplomatic, military, and judicial means.
Idris also urged those still carrying arms under Ekpa’s influence to renounce violence and embrace peace, saying “Nigeria is big enough for all its people, but there can be no progress where violence and division prevail.”
The Federal Government further expressed gratitude to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Armed Forces, intelligence agencies, the police, and the judiciary for their sacrifices in safeguarding the nation.
