Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Defense Headquarters, has said that tension had drastically reduced in the South-East geopolitical zone since the arrest of Finland-based Biafra agitator, Mazi Simon Ekpa.
This was disclosed by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, on Tuesday, in Abuja.
Ikengaonline had reported that Ekpa was arrested by the Finnish security operatives over alleged terror activities using his social media platform.
He, however, denied the allegation, claiming he was a content creator, according to reports.
Recall that the Media and Publicity Secretary of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Emma Powerful, had always distanced IPOB from the insecurity in the South-East, claiming that some criminals were hiding under the continued detention of its Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to perpetrate mayhem in the region.
Gen. Musa spoke when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Defence to defend the 2025 budget.
According to him, peace and security are now being restored to the region following Ekpa’s arrest and detention.
He also said that on-going Operation Udoka launched by the military in the zone had helped in flushing out banditry and easing off sit-at-home menace in the zone.
The CDS said the military were working with the people to ensure stability and restoration of peace in the South-East.
Gen. Musa said, “With the arrest of Simon Ekpa, it has greatly reduced the tension. Also with Operation Udoka, we’re also doing that, picking up most of the leadership that are there, taking them out, and then making sure that the place is peaceful.
“The sit-at-home on Mondays is gradually diminishing. We’re also working with the political leaders there because we understand, as I said always, that we need to have local support because without it, it’s difficult. You know, the terrain is very challenging, so we need to work together. It is improving.”
The CDS noted that the Yuletide season was very peaceful in the region because security agencies were very proactive.
He said they were committed to non-kinetic measures of addressing the security problem and this was yielding positive results.
“We had some intelligence and worked ahead to ensure that everywhere was kept peaceful. That has happened and we intend to do that and continue to do more. What we try to encourage is jointness, and synergy in our operations.
Gen. Musa called for more support for the military.
“And like we always appeal for Nigerians to understand that they have to take ownership of their armed forces, they have to take ownership of the security challenges we are facing. It’s not a challenge for the armed forces alone or security agencies, it’s everybody’s responsibility to do.
“And we’re happy that we’re beginning to get that support from everywhere. Human intelligence information is coming, it’s flowing quite very well and we are taking adequate action and that’s why we see things are improving.”
Says military operations helping to checkmate oil theft
“What we have done is that we have established and enhanced the kinetic efforts for the three services for our operations. We have the Delta Safe, which is in the South-South for Oil theft and Militancy. At least for the first time now we have been able to reach our OPEC oil quota for Nigeria and we intend to do more.
“Our target is to hit 2.2 million barrels a day for Nigeria. It’s not something that we can also do alone. We also need the other stakeholders in the oil industry to play their roles. We are doing more, providing more security. We are close to 2 million barrels per day. We intend to do more. This year, we want to intensify our operations so that we take out.”
“We have formed groups that are discussing with the locals. And we have found that that discussion has helped a lot. So we have the religious leaders, the cultural leaders, and every stakeholder is also part of it. We realize that if we carry everybody along, it makes it a lot easier. As we said, the best general is a general who does not need to shoot. If you can solve the problem without firing it is better.
“So that by the time we do that, those are willing to move, we move them out, and those that are unwilling, then we go after them. But the kinetic and the non-kinetic must continue to go hand in hand. And it is working very well.”
