The Federal Government has commended Finland following the conviction of Simon Ekpa, the self-styled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Government in Exile, who was on Monday sentenced to six years’ imprisonment by the Päijät-Häme District Court for terrorism offences.
In a statement issued by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the government described the ruling as a “watershed moment” for victims of violence in Nigeria’s South-East and a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations between both countries.
Idris said Ekpa’s activities had incited violence and fuelled terror across several communities, leading to loss of lives, destruction of businesses, and the displacement of families.
He noted that Ekpa’s orchestration of violence through IPOB activities had left “families shattered, children orphaned, and entire communities living in fear”.
The Minister stressed that the Finnish court’s judgment had vindicated Nigeria’s longstanding position on Ekpa’s role in the unrest, while also sending “a clear signal to extremists everywhere that justice will always catch up with those who seek to destabilise societies through terror”.
According to him, President Bola Tinubu’s administration remains unwavering in its resolve to defend Nigeria’s sovereignty and protect its citizens.
He pledged that the government would continue to deploy all available diplomatic, military, and judicial resources to safeguard national unity and security.
The Federal Government also used the opportunity to call on individuals who had taken up arms under the influence of Ekpa and similar agitators to lay them down and embrace peace.
“Nigeria is big enough for all its people, but there can be no progress where violence and division prevail,” Idris said.
The statement further acknowledged the contributions of the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Armed Forces, the Police, intelligence agencies, and the Federal Ministry of Justice for their efforts in maintaining national security.
Idris described their sacrifices and the resilience of Nigerians as the “backbone of the country’s enduring unity”.
The government urged Nigerians at home and abroad to unite in pursuit of peace and stability, noting that the conviction of Ekpa marks a turning point in the fight against separatist violence.
