The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced the declaration of Simon Ekpa, a Finland-based self-styled Biafra agitator, as wanted, alongside Chika Edoziem, another individual advocating for Biafra.
Both Ekpa and Edoziem are noted as disciples of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). This declaration is part of a broader effort to identify and bring to justice individuals involved in violent activities within the Southeast geopolitical zone.
Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, the Director of Defence, Media Operations, unveiled the list of wanted persons, which includes Ekpa and Edoziem, among others, through a poster released in Abuja on Saturday. The poster featured names and photographs of individuals wanted for various crimes, including terrorism, kidnapping, and other violent offenses.
It’s noteworthy that no bounty has been placed on the 97 individuals declared wanted by the DHQ. This contrasts with previous instances, such as in 2022 when the military declared 19 bandits wanted in the Northwest, offering a N5 million bounty for their capture. While it remains unclear whether those declared wanted in 2022 have been apprehended or neutralized, names like Bello Turji and Halilu Babubu still appear on the list released recently.
In addition to Ekpa and Edoziem, the DHQ’s list includes individuals wanted for various offenses across different regions of Nigeria. In the Northwest, 43 persons were declared wanted for their involvement in banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism. Notable names among them are Alhaji Shingi, Malindi Yakubu, and Bello Turji.
Meanwhile, in the Northeast, the DHQ has identified 33 individuals affiliated with Boko Haram and Islamic State–West Africa Province (ISWAP) as wanted for their roles in terrorist activities. Among them are Abu Zaida, Modu Sulum, and Mohammad Khalifa.
In the Southeast, aside from Ekpa and Edoziem, individuals such as Egede, Zuma, and ThankGod, along with others like High Chief Williams Agbor and Ebuka Nwaka, have been marked as wanted for their alleged involvement in violent crimes.
The DHQ has urged the public to provide any relevant information regarding the whereabouts of these wanted individuals. Contact can be made through the provided phone numbers: 090488450750, 09071230344, 08167291448, 09135783469, 09127140930, and 08146691704.
