Simon Ekpa’s Arrest, Operation Udoka Reducing South-East Tension — CDS

The Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, on Tuesday, disclosed that the recent arrest of Simon Ekpa in Finland has significantly reduced tension in Nigeria’s South-East region.

Speaking before the House of Representatives Committee on Defence to defend the 2025 budget, Musa attributed the reduction in violence to Ekpa’s arrest and the ongoing military operation, Operation Udoka, launched by the Defence Headquarters.

Musa noted that Ekpa’s arrest, coupled with targeted operations against separatist leaders, has calmed the once-volatile region.

He said, “With the arrest of Simon Ekpa, it has greatly reduced the tension.

“Also, with Operation Udoka, we’re picking up most of the leadership there, taking them out, and ensuring that the place is peaceful. The sit-at-home on Mondays is gradually diminishing.”

Naija News gathered that Operation Udoka, designed to eliminate banditry and the disruptive sit-at-home orders in the South-East, is yielding positive results. Musa emphasized the importance of working closely with local communities and political leaders to maintain stability.

“We need to have local support because, without it, it’s difficult. The terrain is very challenging, so we need to work together. It is improving,” he added.

Non-Kinetic Measures And Human Intelligence Needed

Highlighting the role of non-kinetic measures, Musa revealed that proactive intelligence and community engagement have contributed to the recent peace experienced during the holiday season.

“We had some intelligence and worked ahead to ensure everywhere was kept peaceful. What we try to encourage is jointness and synergy in our operations,” he said.

Musa also emphasized the importance of citizens’ involvement in security. “Nigerians have to take ownership of their armed forces and the security challenges we are facing. It’s not a challenge for the armed forces alone—it’s everybody’s responsibility.”

Addressing security efforts in the South-South, Musa highlighted the military’s success in combating oil theft, noting that Nigeria is now meeting its OPEC oil production quota for the first time in years.

“Our target is to hit 2.2 million barrels a day. We’re close to 2 million barrels per day and intend to do more. This year, we want to intensify our operations,” he said.

Musa stressed the importance of engaging religious leaders, cultural leaders, and other stakeholders in dialogue to ensure sustainable peace.

“We have formed groups that are discussing with the locals. If we carry everybody along, it makes it a lot easier. The best general is one who does not need to shoot. If you can solve the problem without firing, it is better,” he said.

Optimism For Sustained Peace

Musa expressed optimism about the current strategy, which balances kinetic and non-kinetic efforts. “The kinetic and the non-kinetic must continue to go hand in hand. It is working very well,” he concluded.

CDS Calls For Improvement Of Border Management

The CDS urged the improvement of border management to address the problem of smuggling.

He said several children who were being trafficked were rescued by them.

“We have rescued several children being trafficked across Nigeria to other countries. And then trafficking of drugs, small arms, light weapons. We’re working in tandem with the Customs. When we make such arrests, we call either the NDLEA or the Customs and hand them over to them. So these are extra things that we’re doing,” he said.

He said they were committed to ensuring peace across the country.

Without peace, there cannot be development. And nobody is happy when things are not peaceful. Because even if you think you have, sometimes you might be the ones at the receiving end. So that has equally helped us a lot.

He also expressed concern about the troops’ welfare, which he said was dismal.

“Now what is our other concern? Troops’ welfare. We know generally the economy, everybody is having the heat. And we’re no more different. So we’re looking at the aspect of also improving the welfare of our troops, the RCA, Ration Cash Allowance. We’re still struggling at less than ₦2,000 per soldier per head to feed.

“We’re happy that Mr. President has recently increased the salaries to some extent of the junior class, which is the junior grade of personnel, which has also enhanced their ability.

“We know the country is going through so much and it’s not only the military that needs support, but I think we want to get more, we can do more.

“We also need accommodation. Every year we recruit almost 25,000 for all the services. And those going on retirement, every year they are not up to 5,000. So you see we’re getting almost 20,000 into the system. The issue of new barracks, construction, old barracks, and renovation, are issues we have to address because now that we’re beginning to get peace.

“Gradually we’re going to return to barracks. We don’t want to go back to barracks and then we’ll start living in tents or in batches like it was before. So we must be able to work ahead to establish new barracks that have been established and then to be able to carry out renovation.”

CDS Advocates For Local Manufacturing Of Weapons

He also stressed the need to drive local manufacturing of weapons as it was difficult to get weapons internationally.

He said this was a major reason the fight against insecurity has persisted.

“We also need equipment. We have also tried to increase, because we realized that, because we don’t produce what we need, it’s been very difficult. That’s one of the reasons why the warfare has continued for this long. Because we have to rely on getting hard currency to go abroad.

“When you go there to buy, again, you don’t get this thing off the shelf. Sometimes you have to pay. And now with the Ukraine-Russian war, it has made it extremely more difficult. Because America particularly is paying off most of the items. So when you go there, they say it’s already been booked. So to get it is a problem. So we realize that we need to also start producing what we need.

“And that we have started with the DICON bill that Mr. President signed. We are doing a lot together to try and bring regional equipment manufacturers to come and produce in Nigeria With the DICON, what we are doing again is we have several local manufacturers of weapons.

“They have the talents, but they don’t have anywhere to showcase it. So the tendency is if they are not used positively, they will go because they want to survive, they will go negatively. And that’s why in some areas we have identified some people that produce very good weapons, automatic, but local.

“So what we are doing is we are trying to get them, bring them in, give them the platform so that they can come and legitimately produce this thing. And gradually, Nigeria can start producing its kind of weapon. So we don’t have to rely on foreigners to get our weapons.

“We are doing that and looking at experts. What we are doing, we are talent hunting them all over the country and then bringing them in to be able to produce this item for us.”

Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, said as representatives of the people, they must ensure that every Naira is judiciously spent to strengthen the operational capacity of the Air Forces and deliver tangible results.

He said this year’s budget defence is particularly significant as it comes against the backdrop of evolving global and domestic security threats.

These recent developments highlight the need for heightened vigilance and inter-agency collaboration, he said.

“We must leverage intelligence, technology, and best practices to neutralize emerging threats and safeguard our citizens. As we deliberate on the 2025 budget, I urge all defence agencies to prioritize strategic initiatives that align with national security objectives,” he said.