The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB was last week classified by the Global Terrorism Index in its report as the 10th deadliest terror group in the world, and the Institute for Economics and Peace, an independent and non-profit think tank, on Monday, issued a statement explaining its position.
In the statement posted on its website, the think tank noted that although the pro-Biafra secessionist movement based in southeast Nigeria had been linked to several attacks, which had been attributed to its paramilitary wing, the Eastern Security Network, the group had not claimed responsibility for any of the attacks.
The think tank said it was differentiating between peaceful activities of IPOB and its militant wing so as to update the Global Terrorism Index 2023.
The statement read, “The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is a pro-Biafra secessionist movement based in Southeast Nigeria that aims to establish an independent state of Biafra.
IPOB was proscribed as a terrorist group by the Nigerian government in 2017. In recent years, IPOB has been linked to several attacks, which have been attributed to its paramilitary wing, the Eastern Security Network (IPOB-ESN). The group has not claimed responsibility for any of these attacks.
It is important therefore to differentiate between the peaceful activities of the group and its alleged involvement in violent activity. We have today updated the Global Terrorism Index 2023 to reflect this necessary clarification.”
The GTI had in its earlier report claimed that “The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), designated as a terrorist group by the Nigerian government in 2017, recorded their deadliest year in 2022. They were responsible for 40 attacks and 57 deaths in 2022, an increase from 26 attacks and 34 deaths the year prior. IPOB is a separatist movement with many factions, many of which are seeking a peaceful succession from Nigeria.”
