By Jude Michael
When it seemed like the Nigerian Government would never act against the activities of self-styled leader of a breakaway faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Simon Ekpa, the Defence Headquarters has declared him and no fewer than 95 others wanted for various crimes in Nigeria. Included also is Chika Edoziem, another leader of IPOB, loyal to incarcerated Nnamdi Kanu who leads the mainstream IPOB.
The wanted persons include terrorists and insurgents, among others, who are behind violent crimes in the country.
On the list are Simon Ekpa, self-styled Biafra agitator and disciple of Nnamdi Kanu, and another leader of IPOB, Chika Edoziem.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, confirmed the names and pictures of the people they declared wanted on Friday March 22.
Unlike in November 2022, when the military declared no fewer than 19 bandit leaders wanted with a bounty of N5m on each of them to encourage Nigerians to volunteer information that could lead to their arrest, this time around no bounty was placed on the 97 persons declared wanted.
The names and pictures contained terrorists from the North East and North West, as well as insurgents in the South-East and North Central.
A total of 43 persons were declared wanted in the North West Zone ravaged by banditry, among whom are: Alhaji Shingi; Malindi Yakubu; Boka; Dogo Gide; Halilu Sububu; Ado Aliero; Bello Turji; Dan Bokkolo; Labi Yadi; Nagala; Saidu Idris; Kachalla Rugga and Sani Gurgu.
In the North East ravaged by Boko Haram and Islamic State for West Africa Province terrorists, 33 persons were declared wanted.
Some of them are Abu Zaida; Modu Sulum; Baba Data; Ahmad; Sani Teacher; Baa Sadiq; Abdul Saad; Kaka Abi; Mohammad Khalifa; Umar Tella; Abu Mutahid; Mallam Mohammad; Mallam Tahiru Baga; Uzaiya and Ali Ngule.
Also, a total of 21 Insurgents and violent criminals were declared wanted in the South East and North Central Areas.
They are Simon Ekpa; Chika Edoziem; Egede; Zuma; ThankGod; Gentle; Flavour; Mathew; David Ndubuisi; High Chief Williams Agbor; Ebuka Nwaka; Friday Ojimka; Obiemesi Chukwudi aka Dan Chuk; David Ezekwem Chidiebube and Amobi Chinonso Okafor aka Temple among others.
The latest development concerning Ekpa must have come as a relief to the people of the South East who had long wondered why the Federal Government had continued to shy away from going up against him despite the terror he had been unleashing against his people of the South East.
