Latest news with #IPOB
BBC News
7 days ago
- BBC News
'I return come see my inlaw, sister deadi body' – Victims of Imo mass killing tok how e happun
"For my village for Umualaoma, dem kill nine pipo including my sister and her husband." Na so Ogbu Chidozie tok give BBC Igbo. Chidozie say, although im bin no dey village wen di attack bin happun, but im enta early mor-mor Friday to see im sister and her husband deadi bodi. Unknown gunmen sama kasala and tears give three communities for Arondizuogu, Ideato local goment for Imo State, afta dem kill at least seventeen pipo, on Thursday evening. Nigeria Police Force, Imo State Command say, di three unknown gunmen wey be suspected members of di proscribed IPOB/ESN bin do di attack for three communities Ndi-Ejezie, Umualaoma, and Ndiakuwata Uno. Chidozie tell BBC say di three gunmen wey bin dey on top, just enta di village begin shoot anyhow as dem dey drive dey go. Di attackers wey bin dey wear military uniform, land di village around 8:30pm on Thursday begin shoot pipo asy dem dey run, im tok. "Dis pipo include one gunman plus two men wey wear military uniform. Dem from Ndi-Ejezie begin shoot reach Ndiakuwata continue dey shoot pipo gun. Dem continue dey shoot di gun from dia as dem return to Ndi-Ejezie again," Chidozie say. Im add say di attackers no be tiff as par say dem no steal anytin. Dat time, any shop wey dem see say e open, dem go stop to dey pursue pipo wey dey run, den kill di ones wey dey inside. Inside one of di viral videos for social media, you go see four deadi bodi for ground for one place inside Ndi-Ejezie town. For di video, one man bin tok how im and di four pipo bin dey play draft wen di gunmen land begin shoot dem. Im manage escape. Ipob/ESN get hand for di attack Tok tok pesin for di Imo State police, DSP Henry Okoye, for one statement say di Command don send "enough operational and intelligence pipo to torchlight who di offenders be, arrest dem bring dem to justice. Di statement also say di police tactical unit dey torchlight everywia for di area and say now every every dey under control, and dem go make sure say dis kain tin no go occur again. Dis past few years, different local goments inside Imo State don carry dia eye see sometin for di hand of unknow gunmen. Di state goment dey mostly describe dis attackers as unknown gunmen, meaning say dem no sabi who dem be. Oda times dem dey refer to di attackers as members of militant wing of di proscribed Ipob, Eastern Security Network (ESN). Di wahala of random, unprovoked attacks on innocent civilians of Imo State never dey show sign say e go finish anytime.
Reuters
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Fact Check: Kenya has not demanded Nigeria return separatist leader
Kenya's foreign ministry has dismissed reports circulating widely on social media that it has filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian government demanding the "return" of Biafran separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu. Kanu, a British citizen and separatist leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement in Nigeria, was arrested there in 2015, but went missing while on bail in 2017. He was detained in Kenya in 2021 and appeared back in court in Nigeria later that year, charged with seven counts of terrorism - charges he denies in his ongoing trial. His lawyer has accused Kenyan special forces of abducting Kanu, which Kenya has denied. In May, posts published, opens new tab on Facebook alongside two images – one of Kenyan President William Ruto and the other of Kanu – said: "Breaking News: Kenya Threatens Nigeria with ICC Action Over Abduction of Nnamdi Kanu". The posts said the Kenyan government had filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian government "demanding the immediate return of Nnamdi Kanu to Kenya". The posts also cited an unnamed Kenyan government spokesperson as saying Nigerian agents had infiltrated Kenya to "abduct" Kanu, in what they described as "an act of aggression that could be interpreted as a declaration of war". Korir Sing'oei, the principal secretary of Kenya's Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, told Reuters that Kenya had not filed any proceedings in any court on the issue. "No such statement has been issued by Kenya," he said in a message. "The matter is outside the remit of the ICC in any event." Kanu's lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, told Reuters he was "not aware of any such legal proceedings filed by Kenya". The ICC prosecutes individuals allegedly responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. A spokesperson for the ICC told Reuters in an email that it "only deals with questions of individual responsibility and not States". No Nigerian national is listed as a defendant in any of the ICC's 33 cases published on its website, opens new tab. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the only international court with the remit to settle disputes between the UN's 193 Member States, which includes both Kenya and Nigeria. A representative for the ICJ told Reuters in an email that there is currently no case on the court's docket instituted by Kenya against Nigeria A spokesperson for Nigeria's foreign ministry did not respond to Reuters' request for comment. False. The Principal Secretary of Kenya's Foreign Ministry said the government has not filed any proceedings demanding Kanu be transferred to the country. An ICC spokesperson said it only deals with individuals, not states. This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our fact-checking work.
AFP
23-06-2025
- Politics
- AFP
Posts mislead with claims of Nigeria's southeast being excluded from development projects
'Student Loan excluded South East, Jamb failed South East, Sea port, none in South East, NNPC/FIRS/Customs none from South East, Int'l Airport none in South East, Railway none in South East, Military checkpoints, everywhere in South East,' reads a post shared more than 900 times on Facebook. 'When they cry, you call them IPOB,' concludes the post, published on May 19, 2025. The post was shared by a page belonging to Nigerian singer Charles Oputa, popularly known as 'Charly Boy', to his 180,000 followers. AFP Fact Check has previously debunked claims by Charly Boy (here, here, here and here). Image Screenshot of the misleading Facebook post, taken on June 16, 2025 Nigeria's southeast comprises the states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo. A previous unilateral declaration of independence in the region and the creation of the republic of Biafra in 1967 led to a 30-month civil war that claimed more than one million lives, most of them Igbos, from the effects of conflict, starvation and disease. In 2015, renewed protests for Biafran independence re-emerged after decades, with Nnamdi Kanu as a leading figure. He was arrested in Kenya and extradited to Nigeria on June 27, 2021. He faces charges related to treason (archived here). His trial began afresh on March 21, 2025, after the former judge recused herself (archived here). However, the posts claim that the region has been excluded from infrastructural and development projects is misleading. Loan programme The claim that the southeast region was excluded from a national student loan programme is false. The programme was introduced by the Bola Tinubu administration in May 2024 to encourage more people to pursue higher education (archived here). As of May 2025, the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) said it had received over a million loan applications for tuition and upkeep from about 629,000 students (archived here). Data published by the fund showed that a little more than 40,000 students from the southeast had submitted over 57,000 loan applications. Image Screenshot of the loan disbursement dashboard taken on June 18, 2025 JAMB failure The claim about JAMB failure refers to the entry examination taken by teenagers who want to pursue tertiary education. The exam, Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), is coordinated by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). JAMB reported mass failure in the 2025 edition of the examination, where 78% of the candidates scored less than 200 out of the maximum 400 points (archived here). The failure was later attributed to a technical glitch that affected students in the Lagos and southeast zones. About 206,000 students were affected in Lagos and 173,387 students were affected in the southeast zone (archived here). So this claim is true, though not limited to the southeast. Seaport The claim that there is no seaport in the southeast region of Nigeria is correct. Nigeria currently has seven seaports, which are all located in the southwest and south-south regions due to their proximity to the Atlantic Ocean (archived here). The southeast region, meanwhile, has rivers that run into the ocean but no coastal land. However, the Onitsha River Port – while not a seaport – is located in Anambra state in southeast Nigeria. The river port has reported receiving barges and containers in recent years (archived here and here). There is also an inland dry port under construction in Aba, Abia state (archived here). Inclusion in agencies The claim that there is no one from the southeast region in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigerian Customs Service is misleading. Although the heads of these agencies are not from the southeast, there are other people from the southeast in top positions at these agencies, including the vice president of business services at the NNPCL (archived here). The FIRS Act also mandates that the management team must have a representative from each geopolitical zone, one of which is the southeast (archived here). This rule also applies to the Nigeria Customs Service (archived here). International airport The claim about the absence of an international airport in the southeast is false. The Akanu Ibiam International Airport is located in Enugu (archived here). However, the airports in Lagos and Abuja enjoy more passenger traffic (archived here). Railways The claim that there are no rail lines in the southeast region is false. In November 2024, the government completed and handed over the Port Harcourt-Aba Railway to the Nigeria Railway Corporation to start operations (archived here). In December 2024, the NRC said the trains transport between 500 and 900 passengers per trip (archived here). Military checkpoints The claim that military checkpoints are common in the southeast is true. Due to insecurity (archived here), Mohammed Abubakar, the minister of defence, last year pledged to ramp up security measures in the region with the stated aim of ensuring stability for businesses (archived here). Military checkpoints are also common in the northern region due to efforts to flush out armed groups like Boko Haram and conflicts between Fulani herders and farmers that have resulted in significant casualties (archived here).
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Nigeria: The true cost of separatist sit-at-home protests
Nigeria: The true cost of separatist sit-at-home protests Monday mornings in Onitsha, one of West Africa's busiest commercial cities, used to be the most chaotic day of the week. But these days, they unfold in eerie silence. The familiar blare of traders haggling prices has faded — replaced by an unsettling stillness as many residents of southeastern Nigeria live in fear. The outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement — which is pushing for the independence of Nigeria's southeast — regularly calls for stay-at-home protests to demand the release of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu. Kanu is on trial on terrorism charges in the Nigerian capital, Abuja. While the IPOB claimed it had suspended the stay-at-home order, locals continued to comply due to the fear of armed groups known to attack those who defy the measure, using enforcement tactics like arson, looting and targeted killings. "Mondays now feel so empty," said Gift Chigo, a resident in Imo, one of the hardest-hit states in the region. "Businesses are shut down and shops locked down. And to be honest, we don't necessarily sit at home because we support the IPOB, but out of fear. It's not about solidarity, it's about [protecting] ourselves. What can we do? Nothing," she told DW. Nigeria labels IPOB a terrorist organization Formed in 2012 by two UK-based Nigerians, Nnamdi Kanu and Uche Mefor, the IPOB has been at the forefront of the renewed call for an independent state of Biafra. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Former Eastern region governor and military officer, Emeka Ojukwu, had declared the defunct state of Biafra in the 1960s following the killing of Igbos in northern Nigeria. However, that attempt to secede from the country ended with a bloody three-year civil war that led to the death of millions of people. The agitations still persist with groups like IPOB. In 2020, the IPOB launched its armed wing called the Eastern Security Network aimed at protecting the Igbos, but residents told DW it has instead inflicted more suffering on them. Since Kanu's arrest, the group has split into factions — some of which are more violent, exerting considerable influence and power, especially in rural communities, and targeting government facilities. Although IPOB has repeatedly dissociated itself from the region's violence, authorities have continued to accuse the group of several violent incidents in the area. The Nigerian government has labelled the group a terrorist organization. The cost of a sit-at-home order Apart from the sit-at-home protest every Monday, the region also observes the order on days Kanu appears in court. And, it has not only upended livelihoods and disrupted the economy of the region, but it has also led to the death of more than 700 people over the past four years. A recent report by SBM intelligence, a Lagos-based think tank, shows that the protest has resulted in economic losses of over $4.79 billion (€4.20 billion) with key sectors like transportation, trade, and micro businesses taking the biggest hit. In about 332 violent incidents, the protest's epicenter has been Imo state, where 332 people were killed, followed closely by neighboring Anambra with 202 deaths. Many of the victims were civilians who defied the weekly order or became caught up in clashes between the group and Nigerian security forces. Public institutions like schools and hospitals have also been disrupted by the protest. "I go to class three times a week even though I teach mathematics which was supposed to be taught every single day. We're seriously lagging behind due to the IPOB's order," King David, a teacher in Owerri, told DW. Schools suffer, economy stalls Dengiyefa Angalapu, a research analyst at the Centre for Democracy and Development, a think tank, shared David's concern. He noted that the educational sector has borne the most profound brunt of the sit-ins in the region. "Students preparing for exams often miss critical academic days or are even forced to travel under risky conditions," said Angalapu. "Beyond that, students missing out on school every Monday means they only have four days to learn, and I think that's really a very critical gap compared to other regions in the country." While there was a high rate of compliance with the order in 2021, representing about 83%, actual support is much lower now — about 29%. Nigeria's southeast is inhabited predominantly by the Igbo ethnic group who are known for their entrepreneurial skills. The impact of the sit-ins has been substantial, and these losses are not just contained in the southeast, said Ikemesit Effiong, head of research at the Lagos-based think tank. "People from the Niger Delta and the South South region who are looking to transit through the South East to get to other parts of the country are also materially affected because their goods cannot move over land through the region." Effiong mentioned that the loss in productivity has weakened economic competitiveness and discouraged external investments. "The economic loss in terms of reduced investability climate in the region is worrisome. Many projects that would have been greenlit have actually been held back or rerouted to other parts of the country because the cost of doing business has increased in the South East," he said. What's the way out? Dengiyefa said that, beyond economic loss, deepening unemployment and poverty, what lies ahead is even more staggering. "It's quite sad that a generation of youth are being raised in the southeast in a climate of fear and ideological extremism," Dengiyefa noted. Dengiyefa added that "with the intergenerational transfer of trauma, we're at a very big risk if this continues because we've a whole generation that has been radicalised and that's a very fundamental challenge." Dengiyefa suggested that the Nigerian government should invest in countering secessionist narratives, including engaging local leaders. "We need a non-military security presence such as community policing rather than having solely the armed forces which often escalate tensions" that would eventually lead to a peaceful dialogue for any political demands. Both analysts argued that the heavy-handedness of Kanu's prosecution could be softened through government transparency and fair judicial process. "People may not approve of Nnamdi Kanu's tactics within the region, but his message still has deep resonance. Many people see his treatment as emblematic of how Nigeria has generally treated the Southeast. So, changing that paradigm and changing that perception will be critical," Effiong added.
DW
04-06-2025
- Business
- DW
Nigeria: The true cost of separatist sit-at-home protests – DW – 06/04/2025
The Indigenous People of Biafra's sit-at-home protests have paralyzed southeast Nigeria. As fear grows and losses mount, what's the path to peace? Monday mornings in Onitsha, one of West Africa's busiest commercial cities, used to be the most chaotic day of the week. But these days, they unfold in eerie silence. The familiar blare of traders haggling prices has faded — replaced by an unsettling stillness as many residents of southeastern Nigeria live in fear. The outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement — which is pushing for the independence of Nigeria's southeast — regularly calls for stay-at-home protests to demand the release of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu. Kanu is on trial on terrorism charges in the Nigerian capital, Abuja. While the IPOB claimed it had suspended the stay-at-home order, locals continued to comply due to the fear of armed groups known to attack those who defy the measure, using enforcement tactics like arson, looting and targeted killings. "Mondays now feel so empty," said Gift Chigo, a resident in Imo, one of the hardest-hit states in the region. "Businesses are shut down and shops locked down. And to be honest, we don't necessarily sit at home because we support the IPOB, but out of fear. It's not about solidarity, it's about [protecting] ourselves. What can we do? Nothing," she told DW. Nigeria labels IPOB a terrorist organization Formed in 2012 by two UK-based Nigerians, Nnamdi Kanu and Uche Mefor, the IPOB has been at the forefront of the renewed call for an independent state of Biafra. The familiar blare of traders haggling prices has faded — replaced by an unsettling stillness Image: Patrick Meinhardt/AFP Former Eastern region governor and military officer, Emeka Ojukwu, had declared the defunct state of Biafra in the 1960s following the killing of Igbos in northern Nigeria. However, that attempt to secede from the country ended with a bloody three-year civil war that led to the death of millions of people. The agitations still persist with groups like IPOB. In 2020, the IPOB launched its armed wing called the Eastern Security Network aimed at protecting the Igbos, but residents told DW it has instead inflicted more suffering on them. Since Kanu's arrest, the group has split into factions — some of which are more violent, exerting considerable influence and power, especially in rural communities, and targeting government facilities. Although IPOB has repeatedly dissociated itself from the region's violence, authorities have continued to accuse the group of several violent incidents in the area. The Nigerian government has labelled the group a terrorist organization. The cost of a sit-at-home order Apart from the sit-at-home protest every Monday, the region also observes the order on days Kanu appears in court. And, it has not only upended livelihoods and disrupted the economy of the region, but it has also led to the death of more than 700 people over the past four years. A recent report by SBM intelligence, a Lagos-based think tank, shows that the protest has resulted in economic losses of over $4.79 billion (€4.20 billion) with key sectors like transportation, trade, and micro businesses taking the biggest hit. In about 332 violent incidents, the protest's epicenter has been Imo state, where 332 people were killed, followed closely by neighboring Anambra with 202 deaths. Many of the victims were civilians who defied the weekly order or became caught up in clashes between the group and Nigerian security forces. Public institutions like schools and hospitals have also been disrupted by the protest. "I go to class three times a week even though I teach mathematics which was supposed to be taught every single day. We're seriously lagging behind due to the IPOB's order," King David, a teacher in Owerri, told DW. Former London estate agent and IPOB founder Nnamdi Kanu is on trial on terrorism charges in Nigeria's capital, Abuja Image: Katrin Gänsler/DW Schools suffer, economy stalls Dengiyefa Angalapu, a research analyst at the Centre for Democracy and Development, a think tank, shared David's concern. He noted that the educational sector has borne the most profound brunt of the sit-ins in the region. "Students preparing for exams often miss critical academic days or are even forced to travel under risky conditions," said Angalapu. "Beyond that, students missing out on school every Monday means they only have four days to learn, and I think that's really a very critical gap compared to other regions in the country." While there was a high rate of compliance with the order in 2021, representing about 83%, actual support is much lower now — about 29%. Nigeria's southeast is inhabited predominantly by the Igbo ethnic group who are known for their entrepreneurial skills. The impact of the sit-ins has been substantial, and these losses are not just contained in the southeast, said Ikemesit Effiong, head of research at the Lagos-based think tank. "People from the Niger Delta and the South South region who are looking to transit through the South East to get to other parts of the country are also materially affected because their goods cannot move over land through the region." Effiong mentioned that the loss in productivity has weakened economic competitiveness and discouraged external investments. "The economic loss in terms of reduced investability climate in the region is worrisome. Many projects that would have been greenlit have actually been held back or rerouted to other parts of the country because the cost of doing business has increased in the South East," he said. What's the way out? Dengiyefa said that, beyond economic loss, deepening unemployment and poverty, what lies ahead is even more staggering. "It's quite sad that a generation of youth are being raised in the southeast in a climate of fear and ideological extremism," Dengiyefa noted. Why don't Germans know about their part in the slave trade? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Dengiyefa added that "with the intergenerational transfer of trauma, we're at a very big risk if this continues because we've a whole generation that has been radicalised and that's a very fundamental challenge." Dengiyefa suggested that the Nigerian government should invest in countering secessionist narratives, including engaging local leaders. "We need a non-military security presence such as community policing rather than having solely the armed forces which often escalate tensions" that would eventually lead to a peaceful dialogue for any political demands. Both analysts argued that the heavy-handedness of Kanu's prosecution could be softened through government transparency and fair judicial process. "People may not approve of Nnamdi Kanu's tactics within the region, but his message still has deep resonance. Many people see his treatment as emblematic of how Nigeria has generally treated the Southeast. So, changing that paradigm and changing that perception will be critical," Effiong added. Cash for care: Boosting infant vaccination in rural Nigeria To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Edited by: Keith Walker
