The federal government Monday welcomed the landmark judgment of the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland, which sentenced Simon Njoku Ekpa, a self-styled pro-Biafra agitator, to six-year jail for terrorism offences.
Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris made the government’s position known in a statement issued in Abuja.
Ekpa, a top leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), got judgement some ten months after his arrest in Finland for terrorism offences.
The terrorist was arrested November 21.
Commending the development, the information minister said the ruling stands as a “watershed moment not only for the countless innocent Nigerians whose lives and livelihoods have been brutally disrupted by the reign of terror incited and financed by Ekpa and his collaborators but also for the strengthening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and Finland.”
The minister stated that for years, Ekpa’s reckless incitement and orchestration of violence through the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) “terror activities, unleashed unspeakable pain; families were shattered, businesses were destroyed, children were orphaned, and entire communities were 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,” he said.
The minister added that by upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice is served, “the Finnish judiciary has not only vindicated Nigeria’s consistent position on the matter but also sent a clear signal to extremists everywhere that the world is watching, and justice will catch up with those who seek to destabilise societies through terror.”
“The Tinubu administration remains unshakeable in its resolve to defend Nigeria’s sovereignty and protect the dignity of every citizen. We will continue to mobilise every resource, diplomatic, military, and judicial, to preserve the peace, unity, and territorial integrity of our country.
“We urge all those who, under the misguidance of Simon Ekpa and others, have taken up arms against their fatherland to immediately lay them down and embrace the path of peace. Nigeria is big enough for all its people, but there can be no progress where violence and division prevail,” he said.
The statement also extended the federal government’s profound gratitude to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigerian Armed Forces, the security and intelligence agencies, the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Nigeria Police, “whose sacrifices, courage, and commitment continue to secure our homeland in the face of daunting challenges.”
Idris noted that “their service and the resilience of the Nigerian people remain the backbone of our enduring unity.”
“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,” he said.
…Police intercept GPMG, others in Katsina
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force, Monday, announced a significant breakthrough in its fight against illegal arms trafficking, intercepting two suspected gunrunners and recovering a large cache of weapons and ammunition in Katsina state.
A statement from the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said police officers in Katsina state intercepted two men identified as Abdussalam Muhammed, 25 and Aminu Mamman, 23, on September 1, 2025, along the Ingawa–Karkarku village road and apprehended them based on credible intelligence.
“A search of their vehicle, a Volkswagen Golf, revealed a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), 1,063 rounds of 7.62x39mm AK-47 ammunition and 232 rounds of 7.62x69mm PKT ammunition.
“Preliminary investigations show that the illegal consignment was being transported from Jigawa state to Safana local government area in Katsina for distribution to criminal elements. Both suspects are in custody as a thorough investigation is underway to uncover the source and network behind the arms trafficking,” the statement said.
The statement also quoted the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, as commending he operatives for their swift response and gallantry, reiterating the force’s commitment to dismantling organised criminal networks across the country.