Wednesday, August 19, 2026

DHQ declares Simon Ekpa, 96 others wanted for terrorism, kidnapping

No bounty was placed on the 97 persons declared wanted.

• March 23, 2024
Simon Ekpa
Simon Ekpa [Credit; Leadership News]

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Saturday declared Finland-based Simon Ekpa, a self-styled Biafra agitator, wanted.

Also declared wanted alongside Mr Ekpa was Chika Edoziem, another Biafra agitator, both of them disciples of the leader of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

They are among the 21 violent criminals declared wanted in the South-East geopolitical zone.

Messrs Ekpa and Edoziem were among 97 other persons the DHQ declared wanted for terrorism, kidnapping and other crimes.

Director of defence, media operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, displayed the names and photographs of the wanted persons in a poster he released on Saturday in Abuja.

The poster showed names and photographs of the wanted persons in various geopolitical zones and they were designated either as terrorists, kidnappers or persons behind violent crimes.

No bounty was placed on the 97 persons declared wanted.

In 2022, the military declared 19 bandits wanted in the North-West and placed a N5 million bounty on their heads.

It is not clear whether those declared wanted in 2022 have been captured or killed, but names like Bello Turji and Halilu Babubu are still featured on the list released on Saturday.

The DHQ declared 43 persons wanted in the North-West in connection with banditry, kidnapping and terrorism.

Among them are Shingi, Malindi Yakubu, Boka, Dogo Gide, Halilu Sububu, Ado Aliero, Bello Turji, Dan Bokkolo, Labi Yadi, Nagala, Saidu Idris, Kachalla Rugga and Sani Gurgu.

It declared 33 Boko Haram and Islamic State–West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists wanted in the North-East.

Among them are Abu Zaida, Modu Sulum, Baba Data, Ahmad, Sani Teacher, Baa Sadiq, Abdul Saad, Kaka Abi, Mohammad Khalifa, Umar Tella, Abu Mutahid, Malam Mohammad, Malam Tahiru Baga, Uzaiya and Ali Ngule.

Others declared wanted in the southeast included people known as Egede, Zuma, ThankGod, Gentle, Flavour, Mathew; High Chief Williams Agbor, Ebuka Nwaka, Obiemesi Chukwudi, aka Dan Chuk, David Chidiebube and Amobi Okafor, alias Temple.

The DHQ urged members of the public to report information about the wanted person via phone numbers: 090488450750, 09071230344, 08167291448, 09135783469, 09127140930 and 08146691704. 

(NAN)

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

victims rescued in Katsina

States

14 kidnap victims rescued in Katsina

Troops rescued six males and eight females abducted in Katsina State.

Nnaji Chidiebere

States

Police arrest suspected transformer vandal in Enugu

Police said the suspect was found unconscious with various degrees of injuries.

U.S. Department of Justice

World

U.S. govt indicts 17 Iranians over cyber theft

Prosecutors said the suspects allegedly stole more than 31 terabytes of data from institutions across the U.S.

Governor Hyacinth Alia

States

Gov Alia nominates six new commissioners, seeks Benue assembly’s approval

The governor said the nominations were intended to strengthen the state executive council by filling existing vacancies and replacing outgoing members.

Riley Moore and Bola Tinubu

Heading 1

Nigeria should remain designated ‘country of particular concern’, Tinubu allowing slaughtering of Christians: U.S. Lawmaker

“Do not remove the CPC designation for Nigeria. They have not done near enough to protect Christians! They continue to get slaughtered,” Mr Moore said.

President Bola Tinubu

NationWide

Tinubu pledges peaceful campaign ahead of 2027 elections

“Let us remember that elections are not a do-or-die affair. We are partners in the project of nation-building,” he said.