The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a prominent separatist movement in Nigeria, declared on Monday its unwavering commitment to achieving an independent nation of Biafra, explicitly rejecting proposals for the creation of additional states in Nigeria’s Southeast region.
The announcement, made via a statement on X by a credible source, underscores the group’s long-standing push for self-determination amid ongoing tensions with the Nigerian federal government.
The announcement, accompanied by an image of the Biafran flag—a tricolor of red, black, and green with a rising yellow sun—being waved by a protester in a crowd, reflects IPOB’s continued activism.
The flag, a symbol of the short-lived Republic of Biafra, evokes the region’s secessionist history.
Biafra unilaterally declared independence from Nigeria in May 1967 under the leadership of Lt. Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu, sparking the Nigerian Civil War.
The conflict ended in 1970 with Biafra’s surrender, but calls for Biafran sovereignty have persisted, particularly among the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria.
IPOB, founded in 2012 by British-Nigerian activist Nnamdi Kanu, has emerged as the largest and most vocal organization advocating for Biafran independence.
Kanu, who has been detained by Nigerian authorities on charges of treason and terrorism, remains a central figure in the movement.
The group has accused the Nigerian government of political alienation, inequitable resource distribution, and extrajudicial killings in the Southeast, South-Central, and parts of North-Central regions.
Since 2021, IPOB and allied groups have engaged in a low-level guerilla conflict with federal forces, further escalating tensions in the region.
The statement from IPOB, as reported by a credible source, comes in response to recent discussions within Nigeria about creating new states, including in the Southeast.
Proponents argue that additional states could address regional imbalances and improve governance.
However, IPOB insists that such measures do not address their core demand for independence.
“We want Biafra, not additional states in the Southeast,” the group emphasized, signaling its rejection of incremental reforms in favor of full secession.
The Biafran flag, has become a rallying symbol for IPOB supporters, often displayed during protests and sit-at-home orders enforced by the group to pressure the government.
These actions, including a notable “sit-at-home” order introduced in August 2021, have disrupted economic activities in the Southeast as part of efforts to secure Kanu’s release and push for a referendum on independence.
Nnamdi Kanu, whose trial on terrorism-related charges has faced delays and appeals, remains a polarizing figure.
In October 2023, Nigeria’s Court of Appeal discharged and acquitted Kanu of remaining charges, but he continues to be held in custody as the government appeals the decision to the Supreme Court.
IPOB’s advocacy, rooted in nonviolent resistance inspired by figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi, has also included the formation of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in 2020, a regional militia aimed at protecting Biafran communities from bandits and armed herders.
The Nigerian government, led by President Bola Tinubu, has consistently opposed Biafran secession, viewing it as a threat to national unity.
Federal authorities designated IPOB a terrorist organization in 2017, a label the group and its supporters reject, arguing that their struggle is a legitimate demand for self-determination.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in casualties, though exact figures remain unverified, and has drawn international attention to human rights concerns in the region.
Analysts suggest that IPOB’s latest declaration could intensify political and security challenges in Nigeria, particularly as the country navigates economic difficulties and prepares for future elections.
The group’s rejection of additional states highlights a deep-seated frustration with Nigeria’s federal structure, which IPOB and its supporters claim marginalizes the Igbo population.
The Biafran question remains a complex and emotive issue in Nigeria, rooted in the traumatic legacy of the civil war, which claimed an estimated one to three million lives, many due to famine and disease.
As IPOB continues its campaign, both domestically and internationally, seeking support from global bodies and diaspora communities, the Nigerian government faces mounting pressure to address the underlying causes of regional discontent while maintaining national cohesion.
For now, IPOB’s clarion call for an independent Biafra reverberates across the Southeast, where the dream of a sovereign nation endures, undeterred by decades of conflict and negotiation.
Whether this latest declaration will lead to renewed dialogue or further escalation remains to be seen, but it undeniably reignites one of Nigeria’s most enduring and divisive debates.
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