By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
LANDMARK JUSTICE was delivered in Finland as the Päijät-Häme District Court sentenced Simon Ekpa, a self-styled pro-Biafra agitator, to six years’ imprisonment for terrorism offences.
The Federal Government of Nigeria welcomed the ruling on Monday, describing it as a watershed moment for the countless Nigerians who suffered from the violence incited and financed by Ekpa and his collaborators, and a strengthening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and Finland.
According to the Federal Government, Ekpa’s actions brought devastation to communities, leaving families shattered, businesses destroyed, children orphaned, and entire towns forced to live in fear.
The prolonged incitement and orchestration of violence through activities linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) claimed hundreds of lives, leaving many more injured, and sought to undermine the peace, unity, and sovereignty of Nigeria.
The FG’s statement noted that the ruling vindicated Nigeria’s consistent position on the matter and affirmed that the world remained vigilant against those who sought to destabilise societies through acts of terror.
It stressed that the Finnish judiciary’s decision sent a strong message to extremists everywhere that justice would eventually prevail.
The administration of President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed its unshakable commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and protecting the dignity of all citizens.
The government declared that it would continue to mobilise every resource – diplomatic, military, and judicial-to preserve the peace, unity, and territorial integrity of the nation.
The Federal Government urged individuals who had taken up arms under the misguidance of Simon Ekpa and others to lay them down immediately and embrace peace.
It emphasised that Nigeria remained a country large enough for all its people but warned that no progress could be achieved where violence and division persisted.
Profound gratitude was expressed to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigerian Armed Forces, the nation’s security and intelligence agencies, the Federal Ministry of Justice, and the Nigeria Police for their sacrifices and steadfastness in protecting the homeland.
The government highlighted their courage and resilience, alongside the determination of the Nigerian people, as the backbone of the country’s unity.
The statement concluded by calling on Nigerians at home and abroad to work together in safeguarding peace and security.
It urged citizens to mark this turning point by recommitting to national unity, stability, and progress.
The declaration was signed by Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, on Monday, 1 September 2025.
