Uzodinma to military: Bring Simon Ekpa to Nigeria to sit at home with us

Hope Uzodinma, governor of Imo state, has called for the extradition of Simon Ekpa to Nigeria to “also sit at home with us” or face the law. 

Uzodinma spoke on Friday when he hosted Hassan Dada, the new general officer commanding 82 division, at the government house in Owerri, the state capital.

Ekpa, a self-acclaimed disciple of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), had declared a total lockdown in the south-east geopolitical zone from July 3 to 10.

IPOB had declared sit-at-homes across the south-east to demand the release of Kanu who is being detained and prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Ekpa, who is based in Finland, has continued to issue the sit-at-homes in IPOB’s and Kanu’s names.

Some governors in the south-east have condemned the sit-at-homes, while urging residents to go about their normal businesses on Mondays, in the face of Ekpa’s continuous directives.

“What is topmost in our cases is this popular sit-at-home order. There’s one man called Simon Ekpa somewhere in Finland,” Uzodinma said.

“It is our hope that the security agencies, particularly the military, working with the federal government, will be able to either bring Simon Ekpa back to Nigeria to also sit at home with us or be made to face the wrath of the law.”

The governor said residents deserve to enjoy their rights and privileges in going about their legitimate engagements without fear and harassment, especially by non-state actors, adding that “the peace we are known for must reign”.