By Okon Okoro Nnamdi
To begin this write-up, I would like to use my first paragraph to express my appreciation for the Nigerian Army and other security forces for their unique intervention in restoring security in the South-East. They have done exceptionally well, not without challenges. However, the overall result is highly encouraging. People might say they are doing their job. Truly, they are, but with all sincerity and a sense of purpose. Over the past few years, our security agencies have worked tirelessly, making immense sacrifices to protect lives and property, dismantle criminal networks, and restore peace across the region. The Nigerian Army, Police, DSS and others have continuously conducted coordinated operations to dismantle Eastern Security Network (ESN) camps, arrest operatives, and recover illegal arms. The 82 Division of the Nigerian Army has played a pivotal role in such operations
These have brought the internationally acclaimed peace enjoyed in the Southeast. The relative calm and stability enjoyed today is the direct result of these sustained efforts and unwavering commitment to the safety of the people. All thanks to the resilience and sacrifices of our security forces, the SE is safe, habitable, and thriving. I encourage all Igbo sons, daughters and visitors at home and in the diaspora to travel to the region with confidence, to celebrate Christmas and New Year with their families, and to partake in the joy and unity that define this season.
Now, to the issue at hand. The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have recently been attempting to distance itself from the wave of violence and insecurity in the Southeast region of Nigeria, claiming to be holier than God. In a statement in August 2025, signed by its spokesperson, Comrade Emma Powerful, in response to Amnesty International’s report on insecurity in the region, published on 13 August 2025, which indicted the proscribed group, IPOB refuted the report, claiming that the group has remained committed to non-violent advocacy and has long cancelled its sit-at-home directives.
While IPOB’s stance on Amnesty’s misrepresentation on the security situation in the region as portrayed by Amnesty international in that report is the truth as the situation has drastically changed due to the sacrifices of the security agencies, IPOB claim of innocence is however a lie from the pit of hell, while their concern may appear genuine on the surface, a deeper look into the group’s history, rhetoric, and actions reveal a troubling pattern of intimidation, violence, and destabilization, being the root of all attacks and insecurity generally in the region. These unforgivable actions have portended a serious threat to Nigeria’s National security and unity. This wickedness should not and cannot be ignored. It is necessary to bring this to the public domain, reminding the people of the South East region and the general public not to forget the rounds of violence committed by this group and its allies.
Additionally, the group also on 7 December 2025 to claim that the South East is safe, encouraging South Easterners to travel home for the Yuletide celebration 2025. In the same statement, it further shamelessly usurps the result of the sacrifices of our security personnel, claiming to have been protecting the region and making it safe. This turn of narratives by this wicked group of criminals baffles me as they intensify their propaganda, making the whole Nigerians look like fools. This my revelation is important to flush out the group’s narratives claiming they have been protecting the region and making it habitable, a very stupid assertion for that matter. One will begin to wonder how these irredentists view the imagination of Nigerians; Adams, who were fast asleep while God performed operations of such magnitude, removing their ribs to create Eve????
This new approach by the group could be a broader public and international relations campaign aimed at garnering sympathy, but it is necessary to quickly put the record straight and call a spade a spade for the benefit of the vulnerable people, the psyche of the citizenry, especially the youth, whom IPOB might want to brainwash for recruitment purposes. This will therefore reinforce public awareness, uphold national security interests, and counter any attempts to reframe the group’s narrative. If the group genuinely wants to repent from its evil ways, there are laid down procedures to follow to do this, not by claiming what they are not, usurping the achievements and sacrifices of security agencies and claiming to be holier than God.
IPOB’S ORIGINS AND OBJECTIVES
IPOB was founded in 2012 by Nnamdi Kanu as a separatist movement advocating for the restoration of the defunct Republic of Biafra. While IPOB has consistently claimed to be non-violent, its methods and the conduct of its affiliates have often contradicted this narrative.
Over the years, IPOB has been proscribed by the Nigerian government as a terrorist organisation due to its involvement in activities that threaten national security. Despite this designation, the group continues to operate through various channels, including Radio Biafra, social media platforms, and armed proxies such as the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and Unknown gunmen (whose activities and modus operandi align with ESN style).
THE SIT-AT-HOME DIRECTIVES BY IPOB AND VIOLENT ENFORCEMENT
One of IPOB’s controversial and most economically devastating tactics has been the imposition of sit-at-home orders, ostensibly to protest the detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu. These directives, which paralysed economic and social activities across the Southeast at its initial stage, were stopped by the efforts of security forces. The sit-at-home was enforced through violence and intimidation. Businesses were shut down, transport was disrupted, and those who defied the orders were gruesomely attacked. The question is, who gave the sit-at-home directive, who is the enforcer and who proposes the strategies for enforcement?
Although IPOB claims to have officially ended the sit-at-home policy in July 2023, the reality on the ground tells a different story. In its recent statement, IPOB declared: “Since July 24, 2023, IPOB has made clear through public statements and media channels that all sit-at-home directives have been cancelled. Any acts of violence carried out in relation to these directives are not sanctioned by IPOB.” However, this denial fails to account for the lingering and continued attack on soft targets and villages by armed actors who operate under IPOB’s ideological umbrella. If the military and other security agencies have not destabilised the activities of IPOB, incapacitating them and rendering them useless, I am sure they would have been emboldened to push their agenda further instead of hiding under their tiny shadow to pretend to be ‘holier than thou’, a narrative which can never hold water.
CHRONOLOGY OF ATTACKS AND VIOLENT ACTIVITIES BY IPOB AND ESN
To understand the depth of IPOB’s involvement in regional instability, it is essential to examine a timeline of attacks attributed to IPOB, ESN, and unknown gunmen:
December 2020. IPOB launches the Eastern Security Network (ESN), claiming it was to protect Igbo communities from armed herdsmen, but turned out to be the most dangerous enemy the Igbo had ever come across, killing and maiming its own people, shedding human blood like that of cattle.
January 2021. ESN operatives launched a violent clash with the military in Orlu. IPOB declares a unilateral ceasefire after seven days of fighting.
March 23, 2021. The Nigerian military raided an ESN highly fortified camp in Aba, Abia State, neutralising 16 ESN fighters.
March 29, 2021. Police arrest 16 suspected ESN members linked to attacks on security personnel.
April 5, 2021. ESN gunmen attacked Owerri prison, freeing 1,844 inmates. Police blame ESN; IPOB denies involvement. The question is how ESN, a brainchild of IPOB, would coordinate such an attack without the knowledge of IPOB. A mystery?
May 31, 2021. Oguchi Unachukwu, an Igbo descendant like IPOB/ESN members, who they claimed to be protecting, was shot dead close to the airport during a sit-at-home order, leaving his wife and children devastated. His wife stated, “They shot my husband point-blank through the forehead, right in front of his wife and children.” Igbo Kwenu is not deaf and dumb; they could see it, they could feel it, and they will not forget who their enemies are and who stood firm for their protection in their time of need.
July 3, 2022. Unknown gunmen attacked a police checkpoint in Enugu, killing two officers.
July 25, 2025. Gunmen suspected to be IPOB/ESN operatives invaded Arondizuogu communities in Imo State, killing seven and injuring scores. The Imo State CP Aboki Danjuma condemns the attack as “barbaric, inhumane, and totally unacceptable.”
October 2020. During Radio Biafra broadcasts in October 2020, Nnamdi Kanu directed his followers, saying, “Anybody wearing a police or army uniform is an enemy of the people. Anywhere you see them, you take them down.”These statements not only legitimise violence but also embolden operatives to act under the guise of defending IPOB’s interests.
Eastern Security Network and the Rise of Armed Militancy. The creation of ESN marked a shift from ideological agitation to armed militancy. While IPOB claimed ESN was a vigilante group, its operations quickly escalated into paramilitary actions. ESN operatives have been linked to attacks on police stations, military checkpoints, and government facilities. In April 2021, ESN was suspected to have attacked a camp in Isuikwuato, Abia State, killing livestock and burning homes. This act, though not officially claimed, aligns with IPOB’s threats to enforce grazing bans.
The Role of Unknown Gunmen: IPOB’s Indirect Proxies. The emergence of “unknown gunmen” in the Southeast added complexity to the past security crisis. While IPOB denies any connection, the ideological and operational similarity is evident. These gunmen target government institutions, enforce sit-at-home orders, and promote pro-Biafra sentiments. A 2023 report by HumAngle revealed that IPOB-affiliated social media accounts amplified unknown gunmen attacks, suggesting a coordinated propaganda effort. The report noted: “Many of the posts regarding unknown gunmen have signs of being part of a coordinated campaign.” It has also been argued by some security analysts that the unknown gunmen could be serving as unofficial proxies, allowing IPOB to maintain plausible deniability while continuing its campaign of destabilisation and calumny.
Community Attacks and the Ripple Effects of Instability. Beyond direct attacks on security personnel, IPOB’s activities have indirectly fueled a surge in community violence, kidnappings, and criminality. The breakdown of law enforcement structures due to repeated assaults has left many communities vulnerable. In Arondizuogu, Imo State, the July 25, 2025, attack left seven dead and dozens injured. Community leader Chief Obinna Nwosu lamented: “Our people are living in fear. We can’t sleep with both eyes closed anymore.” Markets have been burned, traditional rulers assassinated, and civilians kidnapped for ransom—all within the context of a region grappling with IPOB-induced instability.
THE NEED FOR TRUTH AND ACCOUNTABILITY
IPOB’s attempt to rebrand itself as a non-violent movement is a strategic deflection that ignores its documented history of violence and intimidation. While its concerns about marginalisation may resonate with some, the path of armed militancy and coercion is neither justified nor sustainable. As IPOB continues to issue statements distancing itself from violent actors, foolishly claiming to be the organisation protecting the South East, it must also reckon with the consequences of its past actions and the legacy of instability it has left in the Southeast. The Nigerian public deserves clarity, and national dailies must play a role in amplifying the truth.
