FG has hailed Finnish court’s six-year jail term for Simon Ekpa.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Federal Government has applauded the landmark judgment of the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland, which on Monday sentenced Simon Ekpa, a self-acclaimed pro-Biafra agitator, to six years’ imprisonment for terrorism-related offences.
In a statement signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the government described the ruling as a watershed moment not only for innocent Nigerians whose lives and livelihoods were disrupted by Ekpa’s incitement of violence but also for the strengthening of bilateral ties between Nigeria and Finland.
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“For years, Ekpa’s reckless incitement and orchestration of IPOB terror activities inflicted unspeakable pain on Nigerians; families shattered, businesses destroyed, children orphaned, and entire communities forced to live under fear. Hundreds of lives were lost, and many more maimed in pursuit of a destructive agenda that undermined Nigeria’s peace, unity, and sovereignty,” the statement read.
The government commended the Finnish judiciary for upholding the rule of law and sending a strong message to extremists worldwide that justice will eventually catch up with those who attempt to destabilize societies through terror.
Reaffirming the Tinubu administration’s commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty, Idris stated that the government would continue to mobilize diplomatic, military, and judicial resources to safeguard the country’s peace, unity, and territorial integrity.
The statement also urged individuals misled by Ekpa and his collaborators to lay down their arms and embrace peace, stressing that “Nigeria is big enough for all its people, but there can be no progress where violence and division prevail.”
The government further expressed gratitude to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigerian Armed Forces, intelligence agencies, the Federal Ministry of Justice, and the Nigeria Police for their sacrifices and resilience in securing the nation despite daunting challenges.
“As we mark this turning point, the Federal Government enjoins all Nigerians, at home and abroad, to work together for unity, peace, and security of our country,” the statement concluded.
