The Federal Government has commended the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland for sentencing Simon Ekpa, a self-styled pro-Biafra agitator, to six years’ imprisonment for terrorism offences.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the ruling as a watershed moment for Nigeria and a reaffirmation of the country’s long-standing position on Ekpa’s activities.
According to the government, the conviction not only delivers justice to countless innocent Nigerians whose lives and livelihoods were disrupted by violence linked to Ekpa and his collaborators, but also strengthens bilateral relations between Nigeria and Finland.
“For years, Ekpa’s reckless incitement and orchestration of violence through IPOB terror activities inflicted unspeakable pain: families shattered, businesses destroyed, children orphaned, and entire communities forced to live in 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 statement read.
The government further noted that by upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice, the Finnish judiciary had sent a clear signal to extremists everywhere that “the world is watching, and justice will catch up with those who seek to destabilize societies through terror.”
The Tinubu administration reiterated its commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and protecting citizens, stressing that all available resources—diplomatic, military, and judicial—would continue to be mobilized to preserve national peace and unity.
It also urged those misled by Ekpa and others to abandon violence and embrace peace, noting that “Nigeria is big enough for all its people, but there can be no progress where violence and division prevail.”
The statement expressed gratitude to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigerian Armed Forces, security and intelligence agencies, the Ministry of Justice, and the Nigeria Police Force for their sacrifices in securing the nation.
“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,” Idris added.