The arrest of Biafra agitator Simon Ekpa in Finland has significantly reduced tension in the Southeast, according to Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa.
Speaking before the House of Representatives Committee on Defence to defend the 2025 budget, Gen. Musa attributed the decreasing unrest to both Ekpa’s arrest and the ongoing Operation Udoka.
This operation, which targets banditry and aims to end the sit-at-home situation in the Southeast, is seen as crucial in restoring peace to the region.
“The arrest of Simon Ekpa has greatly reduced the tension. Also, with Operation Udoka, we’re picking up most of the leadership behind the unrest, removing them, and ensuring the area remains peaceful,” Gen. Musa said.
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He also noted that the notorious Monday sit-at-home orders, which have caused considerable disruption, were gradually diminishing, thanks to cooperation with local political leaders.
Gen. Musa highlighted the success of the recent holiday period, which was marked by peaceful conditions due to proactive security measures. He added that non-kinetic efforts, such as intelligence gathering and collaboration with the local population, have been key in improving the security situation.
“We had some intelligence and worked ahead to ensure peace. We encourage synergy in our operations and appeal to Nigerians to take ownership of their armed forces and the security challenges we face,” he explained.
He also commended the support received from locals, with increasing human intelligence contributing to improved security actions.
The CDS discussed efforts in the South-South region, particularly under the Delta Safe operation, which targets oil theft and militancy. He revealed that, for the first time, Nigeria had met its OPEC oil quota, and expressed intentions to ramp up oil production to 2.2 million barrels per day with the help of other stakeholders.
“We intend to do more. Our target is to reach 2.2 million barrels a day, and we’re getting closer to two million barrels per day,” Gen. Musa affirmed.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, emphasised the importance of efficient use of funds to strengthen the operational capacity of the armed forces, particularly amid evolving global and domestic security challenges.
