Ohanaeze Ndigbo has expressed gratitude to the federal government over the sentencing of Simon Ekpa in Finland.
Ekpa, who has been accused of masterminding insecurity in the south-east, was handed a six-year jail term by a Finnish court for terrorism-related offences.
In a statement on Tuesday signed by Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Deputy President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and Thompson Ohia, the organisation’s national spokesman, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group described the development as a “landmark victory” against terrorism and insecurity in the region.
The group commended Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser; Bello Matawalle, Minister of State for Defence; and Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff, for their “relentless efforts in dismantling Ekpa’s reign of terror”.
According to Ohanaeze, the cessation of the disruptive “sit-at-home” orders linked to Ekpa marks a major step toward restoring peace and stability in the south-east.
“The forces behind these killings and violence were blind to faith and tribe. Ekpa’s imprisonment is a watershed moment that has liberated our people from needless hardship,” the group said.
Ohanaeze reiterated its opposition to armed struggle under the guise of Biafra agitation, saying the Igbo nation remains committed to peaceful dialogue and non-violent self-determination.
The group urged the federal government to adopt a “carrot and stick” approach by engaging repentant, non-violent agitators while dealing decisively with armed actors.
It appealed to Biafra agitators who embraced violence under Ekpa’s influence to surrender their arms, promising to lobby the government for rehabilitation and youth empowerment programmes to aid reintegration into society.
“The security of the south-east is non-negotiable. We will not allow any individual or group to hold our region hostage,” the group said.
