The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has stated that the arrest of Biafra agitator Simon Ekpa in Finland has significantly reduced tension in Nigeria’s Southeast.
Combined with the ongoing Operation Udoka, initiated by the Defence Headquarters, the region is gradually returning to peace and stability.
Operation Udoka was launched to address issues such as banditry and the disruptive sit-at-home orders in the region.
Speaking before the House of Representatives Committee on Defence during the 2025 budget defence, Gen. Musa emphasized the importance of collaboration with local leaders to maintain stability.
“With the arrest of Simon Ekpa, tensions have reduced significantly,” he said.
“Operation Udoka has also been effective in targeting the leadership responsible for unrest and ensuring a peaceful environment.
“The Monday sit-at-home orders are fading, and we are working closely with political leaders and local communities to sustain this progress.”
Gen. Musa also noted that the recent holiday period in the region was notably peaceful, attributing this to proactive intelligence measures.
He highlighted the importance of non-kinetic approaches, such as dialogue with locals, which are yielding positive results.
“We are receiving better human intelligence from the public, which has greatly enhanced our operations,” Musa added.
“The people are beginning to take ownership of security challenges, and this collaborative effort is driving significant improvements.”
In addition to efforts in the Southeast, Gen. Musa provided updates on the fight against oil theft and militancy in the South-South under Operation Delta Safe.
He revealed that Nigeria is nearing its OPEC oil production quota, with plans to hit 2.2 million barrels per day through intensified security measures.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, reiterated the importance of ensuring that every Naira allocated to the armed forces is effectively utilized.
He emphasized the need for enhanced inter-agency collaboration to address both domestic and global security challenges.
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