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Insurgency in Southeastern Nigeria

January 07, 2023

The insurgency in Southeastern Nigeria (initially known as the Orlu Crisis) is a military conflict that broke out in the city of Orlu, Imo State, Nigeria on 22 January 2021, when the Nigerian Army moved to crush the paramilitary wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the Eastern Security Network (ESN).[25] The conflict escalated after the ESN managed to repulse the initial push by the Nigerian Army,[14] but IPOB ended the initial crisis by unilaterally withdrawing the ESN from Orlu. After a few weeks of quiet, Nigeria launched a military offensive in the area to destroy the ESN. On 19 February 2021, IPOB declared that as of the day before, a state of war existed between Nigeria and Biafra.[5] Three weeks later, another separatist group declared the formation of a Biafran interim government which was subsequently endorsed by IPOB.[26] Since then, the Biafran separatists have begun to form alliances with other separatist groups in Nigeria and Cameroon. Despite these developments, the separatists claimed that their militant operations were mainly aimed at defending local communities from armed herders and bandits instead of fighting the Nigerian government. In late June, IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu was arrested by Interpol and handed over to Nigerian authorities.

Insurgency in Southeastern Nigeria
Part of the herder–farmer conflicts in Nigeria and the conflict in the Niger Delta
Date22 January 2021 – present[3]
(1 year, 11 months and 1 week)
Location
Former Eastern Region of Nigeria, plus Delta State and Benue State
(spillover into Bakassi, Cameroon)[4][1]
Status

Ongoing

Belligerents
 Nigeria
Spillover into Bakassi:
 Cameroon[1]		 Biafran separatists
Oduduwa separatists (only against Fulani herders)[2]
Commanders and leaders
Muhammadu Buhari
(President of Nigeria)
Ibrahim Attahiru
(Chief of Army Staff)
Ibrahim Tukura
(Brig. Gen. of 34 Brigade)[7]
Hope Uzodinma
(Imo State Governor)
Abdulkarim Usman[8]
(Col. of 302 Artillery Regiment)		 Nnamdi Kanu (POW)
(Leader of IPOB)
Simon Ekpa[9]
(leading IPOB member)[10]
Asari-Dokubo
(Head of BCG)
Princewill Chimezie Richard[11]
(BNL leader)
Innocent Orji[12]
(BNG leader)
Units involved

Nigerian Armed Forces

Nigeria Police Force[16]

  • Imo State Police Command[16]

State Security Service[13]
Ebube Agu[17]

Armed Fulani raiders[18]

Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)

Biafra Nations League (BNL)[4]

Niger Delta militants[20]
Oduduwa Volunteer Force for the Liberation of Southern Nigeria[21]
Biafran National Guard (BNG) / Biafran Supreme Military Council of Administration[22][23]
Casualties and losses
127 killed (government claim as of Aug. 2021)[24] Unknown
115 civilians and militants killed (acc. Amnesty International as of Aug. 2021)[24]

Background

 
Biafra (light brown) attempted to separate from the rest of Nigeria (dark brown) during the Nigerian Civil War.

In 1967, separatists in Nigeria's southeast declared the formation of the independent state of Biafra. The subsequent Nigerian Civil War lasted two and a half years, led to over a million dead, and ended with the defeat of Biafra. Over the following decades, Nigeria continued to suffer from regional instability and revolts, but Biafra separatism was mostly dormant until the 2000s.[27][28] Some Niger Delta communities such as the Ijaw people even integrated anti-Biafran sentiment into their own popular narratives, as they had mostly sided with the central government during the Nigerian Civil War.[29]

From the 1990s, a growing number of people in southeastern Nigeria such as Igbo and Niger Delta natives felt marginalized by the Nigerian central government. This resulted in the violent conflict in the Niger Delta, and previously anti-Biafran communities such as Ijaw began to reevaluate their commitment to Nigeria.[29] Coupled with disaffection among the youth due to high unemployment, this contributed to a resurgence of Biafran nationalism in the entire southeast. While most of the local political leadership distanced themselves from separatism, radical Biafran nationalists organized in the secessionist group IPOB.[27][28] Other hardline Biafran groups included the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB),[30] the Biafra Nations League (BNL; initially known as Biafra Nations Youth League / BNYL),[31] and the Biafran National Guard (BNG). The latter already declared war on the Nigerian Army in 2017.[32]

At the same time, Nigerians became disaffected as the central government failed to suppress the destructive Boko Haram insurgency as well as banditry in the north, while the Nigerian security forces faced accusations of corruption, ineffectiveness, and abuse. Journalists Cai Nebe and Muhammad Bello argued that "swathes of Nigeria remain near-ungovernable" as of Muhammadu Buhari's second presidency. Tensions in the southeast continued to rise after the local economy, heavily dependent on exporting oil, suffered under worldwide low oil prices. By 2020, IPOB had managed to rally substantial following to its cause, although polls showcased that Biafran separatism was not widely supported in the southeast.[28] Non-IPOB groups also began to support separatism such as the Niger Delta People's Salvation Force led by "warlord" Asari-Dokubo. However, there were tensions within the Biafran separatist movement, with Kanu having been accused of intolerance toward non-Jews. The IPOB leader self-identifies as Jew and claims that Judaism is the Igbo's traditional religion.[33]

In August 2020, Nigerian police forces went to an IPOB meeting in Enugu and executed 21 unarmed IPOB members with two police officers dead. Both sides accused the other of firing the first shot.[34] Following the incident, IPOB pledged to retaliate and called on its members to start practicing self-defense.[35] In late-September, at least two Nigerian soldiers were killed during clashes with unidentified gunmen in Enugu; however, IPOB denied any involvement, announcing that "we are not armed and have no plans to pick up arms."[36]

On 12 December 2020, Kanu announced the formation of the ESN to protect Igbos against Fulani raiders. Unwilling to countenance the formation of a non-state-sanctioned paramilitary organization on its territory, the Nigerian government deployed the army to locate ESN camps two weeks later.[18]

The Orlu Crisis (22–28 January 2021)

On 22 January 2021, Nigerian soldiers invaded Orlu to search for ESN operatives. Eight buildings were burnt and one person was killed in the ensuing events.[37] Security forces re-invaded the area three days later, clashing with the ESN and killing at least five people[38] before being repulsed by the ESN.[14] Four Nigerian soldiers were killed in the fighting.[39] The Nigerian Army withdrew, and in the following days, Nigerian Air Force planes and helicopters were deployed to search for ESN operatives in and around Orlu.[14]

 
Nnamdi Kanu (pictured 2021) declared the Eastern Security Network's withdrawal from Orlu on 28 January 2021.

On 28 January, more than 400 Nigerian soldiers were deployed to oust the ESN[40] and the authorities declared a curfew which was brutally enforced. The curfew and the anticipation of imminent heavy fighting caused civilians to flee the city en masse.[41] Later on the same day, Nnamdi Kanu declared a unilateral ceasefire and ordered the ESN withdraw from Orlu[42] to focus on Fulani raiders instead. Kanu claimed that this decision was based on intelligence information that revealed that the army and the police had agreed to withdraw from Orlu also.[3]

Interlude

During the fighting, police officers of the Imo State Police were caught on video flogging civilians, possibly as punishment for curfew violations. After the ceasefire, at least ten police officers were arrested, and Commissioner of Police Nasiru Mohammed condemned their behavior.[16]

Days after the Orlu Crisis, IPOB gave all the governors of southeast Nigeria 14 days to ban open grazing, threatening to deploy the ESN to enforce a ban if the authorities did not do so.[43] However, the ESN did not wait 14 days; a few days later, ESN operatives attacked a Fulani camp in Isuikwuato, Abia State, killing their livestock and burning down their houses.[44] Following the raid, some governors responded by heeding the ESN's call and banning open grazing.[45]

Renewed fighting and declaration of war (18 February 2021–present)

At some point in mid-February, the Nigerian Army 34 Artillery Brigade launched an operation to find ESN camps around Orlu and Orsu. The Nigerian Army also reinforced Orlu, deploying military helicopters to the city.[46] Hostilities were renewed on 18 February, when the Nigerian Army and the ESN fought a gun battle in the forest outside Orlu[47] while the Nigerian Air Force conducted air strikes in the area.[48] A day into the fighting, the confrontation had spread to Ihiala, Anambra State.[49] Nigerian forces captured an ESN base in the village of Udah outside Orsu on 21 February.[50] The Nigerian Army 82 division also arrested 20 suspected IPOB members and confiscated their weapons.[51]

The same day as hostilities were renewed, IPOB said that the military deployment constituted a "declaration of war against the Igbos" and accused the Nigerian government of planning a "final solution to the Biafran question". The group declared that Nigeria had "crossed the line of no return" and that Igbos now had no choice but defend themselves.[52] The next day, IPOB declared that the "second Nigeria/Biafra war" had begun on 18 February, and that unlike in the 1967–1970 Nigerian Civil War, Biafra would win.[5]

Spillover and escalation

Within a few days, the danger of spillover into other parts of the former East Region became evident. In response to the Nigerian military operation in and around Orlu,[53] the Biafra Nations League threatened to attack all oil installations in Bakassi.[53] In Aguata, Anambra State, suspected Biafran separatists killed four policemen at a checkpoint and took off with their weapons on 24 February.[54] Another four policemen were killed in Calabar the next day.[55] On 26 February, a police station was attacked in Aboh Mbaise, Imo State.[56] On 3 March, gunmen killed two policemen in Cross River State.[57]

The attacks were condemned by the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra. MASSOB also condemned Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma for inviting the Nigerian Army.[58]

 
By March 2021, Biafran separatists were active in several Nigerian states located in the Niger Delta.

Local authorities blamed the ESN and IPOB for many attacks on police stations, some of which preceded the Orlu Crisis. The Police Commissioner of Delta State alleged that IPOB elements had crossed the Niger River to infiltrate the state. To prevent such infiltrations, the Nigerian Navy started patrolling the river.[15] In early March, IPOB threatened to deploy the ESN to Benue State to protect Igbos against Fulani raiders; this came after the killings of IPOB activists by armed Fulani.[59] Days later, Nnamdi Kanu declared that the ESN had captured a prominent Fulani bandit leader named Mohammed Isa in Benue State.[60]

In mid-March, the leader of the Niger Delta People's Salvation Force, Asari-Dokubo, declared the formation of the Biafra Customary Government (BCG). The BCG was intended as the first step of establishing a de facto government for an independent State of Biafra. Dokubo stated that Biafra would not go to war, but that it would go through with secession from Nigeria.[26] IPOB soon threw its support behind the BCG, declaring that it would support any Biafran independence movement.[61] A few days later, the MASSOB led by Ralph Uwazuruike, endorsed the BCG.[30] However, Asari-Dokubo and Nnamdi Kanu had previously quarrelled with each other, and the rivalry continued after the BCG's formation, especially after some IPOB leaders had officially switched allegiance to the BCG.[33] Internationally, IPOB gained the support of the Ambazonia Governing Council (AGovC), an Ambazonian separatist movement led by Ayaba Cho Lucas and with its own armed wing, the Ambazonia Defence Forces (ADF). In April, IPOB and AGovC moved towards a formal alliance.[62] This move was not unprecedented, as the BNL/BNYL had already openly aligned itself with Ambazonian separatists in 2017.[63]

While separatist movements formed a unified front, militants escalated the war. Soon after the formation of the BCG, the BNL declared that it had taken control over "creeks and bushes" in the Bakassi Peninsula, and threatened to hijack any oil vessels coming from there.[4] On 19 March, gunmen attacked a prison and a police station in Ekwulobia, releasing several prisoners and killing two policemen and two prison officials, but failing to burn down the police station. IPOB denied any involvement.[64]

On 15 March, the ESN invaded Eleme to expel Fulani herders. A week into the ESN offensive, Fulani raiders invaded Agbonchia and committed atrocities against the civilian population.[65] On 5 April, armed men stormed a prison in Owerri, enabling some 1,800 inmates to escape. The Nigerian government blamed IPOB, which in turn denied any involvement.[66] In mid-April, state governors announced the formation of Ebube Agu, a pro-government security network. IPOB declared that the ESN was sufficient, and alleged that the true purpose of Ebube Agu was to fight the ESN.[17]

On 14 April, armed men launched several attacks in Njikoka and hoisted a Biafran flag. Before the attack, Nnamdi Kanu had accused the Nigerian government of plotting false-flag attacks to destroy the image of ESN.[67] On 24 April, the top ESN commander known as Ikonso was killed when the Nigerian Army allegedly raided an ESN camp in Imo State. IPOB blamed governor Hope Uzodinma, as their intelligence stated he was killed in his house.[68] After less than 24 hours, IPOB announced that a new top commander had been instated.[69] In May, the Biafran National Guard (BNG), now headed by the so-called "Biafran Supreme Military Council of Administration" (BSMCA) which posed as high command of the restored Biafran Armed Forces, declared its intent to conquer southeastern Nigeria, starting with Anambra State.[23]

 
A group of armed youth separatists of unknown affiliation in southern Nigeria.

In early June, President Buhari tweeted a warning to southeastern Nigerians in response to the IPOB insurgency. Regarding the tweet as incitement to violence, Twitter deleted it, prompting the Nigerian government to ban Twitter entirely from 5 June.[6] On 8 June, the Nigerian Police raided and destroyed another ESN camp in Imo State, reportedly freeing a kidnapped policewoman.[70] In mid-June, IPOB allied with the "Oduduwa Volunteer Force for the Liberation of Southern Nigeria". The latter was a force of Yoruba separatists who advocate the establishment of the "Oduduwa Republic". The two separatist groups announced the formation of the "Biafra and Oduduwa Volunteer Force" to coordinate their efforts to fight armed Fulani herders.[2][21] Meanwhile, Imo State authorities claimed that IPOB militants had killed 128 security personnel since the insurgency's start. IPOB strongly denied these claims, arguing that it remained committed to non-violent solutions and had no interest in openly fighting against Nigerian security forces.[71] Soon after, the Nigerian Army raided Abia and clashed with the ESN, resulting in death of six soldiers. This counter-insurgency operation reportedly resulted in many civilians fleeing Elu, Amangwu and Amekpu out of fear of government reprisals.[72] Furthermore, the verbal struggle between the separatist leaders Asari-Dokubo and Kanu worsened due to both accusing each other of embezzling funds of the separatist movement.[33]

In late June, Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi accused IPOB of murdering northerners, "while bandits only abducted students for money". In response, IPOB leader Kanu reiterated that the ESN was primarily concerned with combating banditry by "Fulani jihadists" and accused Gumi of becoming a "mouthpiece for bandits and terrorists".[73] In addition, five governors of southeastern Nigerian states denounced pro-Biafran groups, resulting in IPOB[74] and the BNL condemning the governors in turn.[75] In addition, the BNL publicly threatened to expand the insurgency, arguing that the Biafran separatists also should continue fighting against Cameroon in the Bakassi conflict. The group threatened to launch pirate raids against Nigerian and Cameroonian vessels in the Gulf of Guinea.[11]

Arrest of Nnamdi Kanu and strikes in the southeast

On 27 June, Nnamdi Kanu was arrested by Interpol in Kenya or another location,[76][77] extradited to Nigeria, and handed over to Nigerian authorities. The latter stated that the IPOB leader is supposed to face trial. Meanwhile, President Buhari referenced the separatist unrest in a TV interview, declaring that the Igbo people were a "dot in a circle" and could be easily crushed.[78][79][80][81] Kanu's arrest precluded a confrontation with his separatist rival Asari-Dokubo who had threatened a "clampdown" on the IPOB leader shortly before.[82] Following the IPOB leader's detention, his "self-acclaimed disciple" Simon Ekpa rose to prominence, promising that Biafran activists would prevent the Anambra State gubernatorial election of November 2021.[9] The Nigerian government also managed to arrest Sunday Adeyemo (aslias "Sunday Igboho"), a Yoruba separatist leader, in Benin.[24]

In early July, security forces arrested ESN commander Emeoyiri Uzorma Benjamin (alias "Onye Army"), accusing him and his followers of killings, destruction of property, and atrocities in Imo State.[83] In the same month, ESN fighters attacked a military checkpoint at Adani, Uzo Uwani, killing two soldiers.[84][85] Following several raids by the security forces against ESN camps, militants allegedly murdered Paschal Okeke, a juju priest. The ESN militants were reportedly upset that his protective charms had failed to shield them from the government.[86] In late July, a military officer was injured by suspected ESN militants in Ohafia, Abia, reportedly prompting security forces to take revenge by storming the town and destroying several houses.[87]

In early August, Amnesty International declared that Nigerian security forces had killed 115 civilians and militants since the unrest's start, while the government stated that 127 members of the security forces had been killed. Amnesty International argued that the security forces had made numerous arbitrary arrests of often uninvolved civilians, and accused them of human rights abuses.[24] On 9 August, IPOB supporters began a stay-at-home protest for the release of Kanu. Despite orders by the government to ignore IPOB's calls for the action, a majority in several settlements across southeastern Nigeria complied with the lockdown. Militant separatists burned at least three buses whose drivers had not taken part in the protest and continued to work.[88] Kanu's trial began in Abuja in October 2021, with him pleading non-guilty. The trial was accompanied by protests of the separatist leader's supporters, and Voice of America journalist Timothy Obiezu argued that IPOB appeared to gaining strength instead of losing it. A new "sit-at-home" strike affected southeastern Nigeria, shutting down most services and businesses there.[89]

"Exercise Golden Dawn", increasing intra-Biafran tensions, and clashes at Bakassi

 
Biafra Nations League militants (seal pictured)[11] temporarily took control of a border crossing in November 2021.

From early October 2021, the 302 Artillery Regiment led by Col. Abdulkarim Usman launched "Exercise Golden Dawn", an operation aimed at combating MASSOB, IPOB, ESN, and other anti-government groups in Anambra State.[8] On 8 November, the BNL took control of a border crossing between Akpabuyo and Bakassi, blocking the road leading to the Peninsula and raising the Biafran flag. The militants retreated before a Nigerian Armed Forces contingent arrived.[90] The BNL consequently claimed that it had taken control of parts of Bakassi, setting up its headquarters there and declaring that it was mobilizing its "marine members" for a "show of force." Reactions to the BNL activities were mixed at the border communities, with some protesting against and others for the group.[91] In this month, the BNG also looted a number of shops, resulting in IPOB dismissing it as "a criminal group". In response, BNG claimed that they had acquired military rockets in preparation for the "secessionist war".[12]

From December 2021, the governors in the five southeastern states of Nigeria were tasked by the government to finally organize the Ebube Agu security network. IPOB once again denounced these efforts, arguing that such outfits had previously failed to counter bandits, and that the new force was still aimed at countering the ESN.[92] On Christmas Eve 2021, the ESN raided Akpawfu. In response, Nigerian Army troops involved in "Exercise Golden Dawn" attacked a nearby location suspected of harboring ESN militants. The military claimed that it arrested an important ESN commander named Godwin Nnamdi after a short firefight.[93] In contrast, the "International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law" claimed that the army had actually detained Godwin Nnaji, a civilian with IPOB sympathies, and falsely portrayed him as an ESN leader.[94]

In January 2022, tensions further rose regionally and locally. IPOB began boycotting northern products such as cow meat in the southeast, whereupon northerners called for boycotts of southeastern goods.[95] At the same time, Dokubo Asari called for the execution of all IPOB members, signifying the growing tensions among the Biafran separatists. BNL condemned Asari's call for violence, arguing that IPOB had indeed sidelined and offended other Biafran groups, but that this should not cause violent infighting among the anti-government forces.[96] In this month suspected IPOB members also abducted an ex-Assembly speaker and four others in Imo State,[97] while the Nigerian Armed Forces claimed the destruction of an IPOB/ESN stronghold in Lilu forest at Ihiala.[13] Fighting also became more intense at Bakassi, as BNL clashed with the Nigerian and Cameroonian militaries and attempted to prevent ships from approaching the peninsula.[1]

On 1 February, claims began to circulate on social media according to which "Black Marine", a group suspected of being part of the BNL, had killed a Nigerian Navy officer at Oron Beach. The Nigerian Navy stated that these claims were false.[19] A few days later, the Nigerian Army claimed to have killed four ESN militants at Ihiala.[98] On 15 February, gunmen suspected to be separatists killed eight traders and 51 cows at a market in Aba; IPOB denied responsibility.[99] On the same day, Ekpa declared that IPOB would no longer take orders from Kanu, as he could not lead the group from prison. However, a large section of IPOB disapproved of Ekpa's position.[10] The strikes in the southeast also continued, and even many schools remained closed.[100] In late February, gunmen suspected to be IPOB/ESN members attacked Ekwulobia and Oko, killing 12 and kidnapping several others.[101]

On 13 April, a BNL commander was killed by the Cameroonian military in Idabato, Bakassi.[102] On 26 April, reports began circulating that two military gunboats has been bombed by Black Marine, a suspected arm wing of BnL who also claimed responsibility for the attack [103] Few days later, 23 persons were arrested in Ikom, a border town in Cross River State by the Police, at first it was reported that they were members of MASSOB, later, BnL confirmed 17 of them are their members arrested in their houses outside the main town, the remaining 6 who are Igbo traders were arrested inside a shop in the main town. [104] On Friday 13 May, 2022, suspected militants of BnL attacked the Ikang jetty, in Bakassi Area of Cross River State killing a Police officer and injuring many others, this is barely a week after the Police arrested 23 members of BnL in Ikom.[105]

In the second half of May, suspected IPOB militants carried out a series of killings: Okechukwu Okoye, a member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, and his aide were abducted and murdered on 15 May;[106][107] seven days later, separatist militants murdered 11 northerners in Anambra State: a pregnant woman and her four children in Orumba North; five commercial motorcycle riders in Onocha, and a salesman at Nnanka.[108][109]

On July 23, five Cameroonian soldiers were killed when they invaded a BNL camp in Bakassi; the BNL lost one fighter during the clash.[110]

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January 07, 2023
insurgency, southeastern, nigeria, insurgency, southeastern, nigeria, initially, known, orlu, crisis, military, conflict, that, broke, city, orlu, state, nigeria, january, 2021, when, nigerian, army, moved, crush, paramilitary, wing, indigenous, people, biafra. The insurgency in Southeastern Nigeria initially known as the Orlu Crisis is a military conflict that broke out in the city of Orlu Imo State Nigeria on 22 January 2021 when the Nigerian Army moved to crush the paramilitary wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB the Eastern Security Network ESN 25 The conflict escalated after the ESN managed to repulse the initial push by the Nigerian Army 14 but IPOB ended the initial crisis by unilaterally withdrawing the ESN from Orlu After a few weeks of quiet Nigeria launched a military offensive in the area to destroy the ESN On 19 February 2021 IPOB declared that as of the day before a state of war existed between Nigeria and Biafra 5 Three weeks later another separatist group declared the formation of a Biafran interim government which was subsequently endorsed by IPOB 26 Since then the Biafran separatists have begun to form alliances with other separatist groups in Nigeria and Cameroon Despite these developments the separatists claimed that their militant operations were mainly aimed at defending local communities from armed herders and bandits instead of fighting the Nigerian government In late June IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu was arrested by Interpol and handed over to Nigerian authorities Insurgency in Southeastern NigeriaPart of the herder farmer conflicts in Nigeria and the conflict in the Niger DeltaDate22 January 2021 present 3 1 year 11 months and 1 week LocationFormer Eastern Region of Nigeria plus Delta State and Benue State spillover into Bakassi Cameroon 4 1 StatusOngoing IPOB declared on 19 February that a state of war existed 5 Ban of Twitter in Nigeria from 5 June 2021 6 Nnamdi Kanu arrested by Interpol on 27 June 2021Belligerents NigeriaSpillover into Bakassi Cameroon 1 Biafran separatists Oduduwa separatists only against Fulani herders 2 Commanders and leadersMuhammadu Buhari President of Nigeria Ibrahim Attahiru Chief of Army Staff Ibrahim Tukura Brig Gen of 34 Brigade 7 Hope Uzodinma Imo State Governor Abdulkarim Usman 8 Col of 302 Artillery Regiment Nnamdi Kanu POW Leader of IPOB Simon Ekpa 9 leading IPOB member 10 Asari Dokubo Head of BCG Princewill Chimezie Richard 11 BNL leader Innocent Orji 12 BNG leader Units involvedNigerian Armed Forces Nigerian Army 82 Division 13 34 Brigade 7 302 Artillery Regiment 8 Nigerian Air Force 14 211 Quick Response Group 13 Nigerian Navy 15 Nigeria Police Force 16 Imo State Police Command 16 State Security Service 13 Ebube Agu 17 Armed Fulani raiders 18 Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB Eastern Security NetworkBiafra Nations League BNL 4 Black Marine 19 Niger Delta militants 20 Oduduwa Volunteer Force for the Liberation of Southern Nigeria 21 Biafran National Guard BNG Biafran Supreme Military Council of Administration 22 23 Casualties and losses127 killed government claim as of Aug 2021 24 Unknown115 civilians and militants killed acc Amnesty International as of Aug 2021 24 Contents 1 Background 2 The Orlu Crisis 22 28 January 2021 3 Interlude 4 Renewed fighting and declaration of war 18 February 2021 present 4 1 Spillover and escalation 4 2 Arrest of Nnamdi Kanu and strikes in the southeast 4 3 Exercise Golden Dawn increasing intra Biafran tensions and clashes at Bakassi 5 ReferencesBackground Edit Biafra light brown attempted to separate from the rest of Nigeria dark brown during the Nigerian Civil War In 1967 separatists in Nigeria s southeast declared the formation of the independent state of Biafra The subsequent Nigerian Civil War lasted two and a half years led to over a million dead and ended with the defeat of Biafra Over the following decades Nigeria continued to suffer from regional instability and revolts but Biafra separatism was mostly dormant until the 2000s 27 28 Some Niger Delta communities such as the Ijaw people even integrated anti Biafran sentiment into their own popular narratives as they had mostly sided with the central government during the Nigerian Civil War 29 From the 1990s a growing number of people in southeastern Nigeria such as Igbo and Niger Delta natives felt marginalized by the Nigerian central government This resulted in the violent conflict in the Niger Delta and previously anti Biafran communities such as Ijaw began to reevaluate their commitment to Nigeria 29 Coupled with disaffection among the youth due to high unemployment this contributed to a resurgence of Biafran nationalism in the entire southeast While most of the local political leadership distanced themselves from separatism radical Biafran nationalists organized in the secessionist group IPOB 27 28 Other hardline Biafran groups included the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra MASSOB 30 the Biafra Nations League BNL initially known as Biafra Nations Youth League BNYL 31 and the Biafran National Guard BNG The latter already declared war on the Nigerian Army in 2017 32 At the same time Nigerians became disaffected as the central government failed to suppress the destructive Boko Haram insurgency as well as banditry in the north while the Nigerian security forces faced accusations of corruption ineffectiveness and abuse Journalists Cai Nebe and Muhammad Bello argued that swathes of Nigeria remain near ungovernable as of Muhammadu Buhari s second presidency Tensions in the southeast continued to rise after the local economy heavily dependent on exporting oil suffered under worldwide low oil prices By 2020 IPOB had managed to rally substantial following to its cause although polls showcased that Biafran separatism was not widely supported in the southeast 28 Non IPOB groups also began to support separatism such as the Niger Delta People s Salvation Force led by warlord Asari Dokubo However there were tensions within the Biafran separatist movement with Kanu having been accused of intolerance toward non Jews The IPOB leader self identifies as Jew and claims that Judaism is the Igbo s traditional religion 33 In August 2020 Nigerian police forces went to an IPOB meeting in Enugu and executed 21 unarmed IPOB members with two police officers dead Both sides accused the other of firing the first shot 34 Following the incident IPOB pledged to retaliate and called on its members to start practicing self defense 35 In late September at least two Nigerian soldiers were killed during clashes with unidentified gunmen in Enugu however IPOB denied any involvement announcing that we are not armed and have no plans to pick up arms 36 On 12 December 2020 Kanu announced the formation of the ESN to protect Igbos against Fulani raiders Unwilling to countenance the formation of a non state sanctioned paramilitary organization on its territory the Nigerian government deployed the army to locate ESN camps two weeks later 18 The Orlu Crisis 22 28 January 2021 EditOn 22 January 2021 Nigerian soldiers invaded Orlu to search for ESN operatives Eight buildings were burnt and one person was killed in the ensuing events 37 Security forces re invaded the area three days later clashing with the ESN and killing at least five people 38 before being repulsed by the ESN 14 Four Nigerian soldiers were killed in the fighting 39 The Nigerian Army withdrew and in the following days Nigerian Air Force planes and helicopters were deployed to search for ESN operatives in and around Orlu 14 Nnamdi Kanu pictured 2021 declared the Eastern Security Network s withdrawal from Orlu on 28 January 2021 On 28 January more than 400 Nigerian soldiers were deployed to oust the ESN 40 and the authorities declared a curfew which was brutally enforced The curfew and the anticipation of imminent heavy fighting caused civilians to flee the city en masse 41 Later on the same day Nnamdi Kanu declared a unilateral ceasefire and ordered the ESN withdraw from Orlu 42 to focus on Fulani raiders instead Kanu claimed that this decision was based on intelligence information that revealed that the army and the police had agreed to withdraw from Orlu also 3 Interlude EditDuring the fighting police officers of the Imo State Police were caught on video flogging civilians possibly as punishment for curfew violations After the ceasefire at least ten police officers were arrested and Commissioner of Police Nasiru Mohammed condemned their behavior 16 Days after the Orlu Crisis IPOB gave all the governors of southeast Nigeria 14 days to ban open grazing threatening to deploy the ESN to enforce a ban if the authorities did not do so 43 However the ESN did not wait 14 days a few days later ESN operatives attacked a Fulani camp in Isuikwuato Abia State killing their livestock and burning down their houses 44 Following the raid some governors responded by heeding the ESN s call and banning open grazing 45 Renewed fighting and declaration of war 18 February 2021 present EditAt some point in mid February the Nigerian Army 34 Artillery Brigade launched an operation to find ESN camps around Orlu and Orsu The Nigerian Army also reinforced Orlu deploying military helicopters to the city 46 Hostilities were renewed on 18 February when the Nigerian Army and the ESN fought a gun battle in the forest outside Orlu 47 while the Nigerian Air Force conducted air strikes in the area 48 A day into the fighting the confrontation had spread to Ihiala Anambra State 49 Nigerian forces captured an ESN base in the village of Udah outside Orsu on 21 February 50 The Nigerian Army 82 division also arrested 20 suspected IPOB members and confiscated their weapons 51 The same day as hostilities were renewed IPOB said that the military deployment constituted a declaration of war against the Igbos and accused the Nigerian government of planning a final solution to the Biafran question The group declared that Nigeria had crossed the line of no return and that Igbos now had no choice but defend themselves 52 The next day IPOB declared that the second Nigeria Biafra war had begun on 18 February and that unlike in the 1967 1970 Nigerian Civil War Biafra would win 5 Spillover and escalation Edit Within a few days the danger of spillover into other parts of the former East Region became evident In response to the Nigerian military operation in and around Orlu 53 the Biafra Nations League threatened to attack all oil installations in Bakassi 53 In Aguata Anambra State suspected Biafran separatists killed four policemen at a checkpoint and took off with their weapons on 24 February 54 Another four policemen were killed in Calabar the next day 55 On 26 February a police station was attacked in Aboh Mbaise Imo State 56 On 3 March gunmen killed two policemen in Cross River State 57 The attacks were condemned by the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra MASSOB also condemned Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma for inviting the Nigerian Army 58 By March 2021 Biafran separatists were active in several Nigerian states located in the Niger Delta Local authorities blamed the ESN and IPOB for many attacks on police stations some of which preceded the Orlu Crisis The Police Commissioner of Delta State alleged that IPOB elements had crossed the Niger River to infiltrate the state To prevent such infiltrations the Nigerian Navy started patrolling the river 15 In early March IPOB threatened to deploy the ESN to Benue State to protect Igbos against Fulani raiders this came after the killings of IPOB activists by armed Fulani 59 Days later Nnamdi Kanu declared that the ESN had captured a prominent Fulani bandit leader named Mohammed Isa in Benue State 60 In mid March the leader of the Niger Delta People s Salvation Force Asari Dokubo declared the formation of the Biafra Customary Government BCG The BCG was intended as the first step of establishing a de facto government for an independent State of Biafra Dokubo stated that Biafra would not go to war but that it would go through with secession from Nigeria 26 IPOB soon threw its support behind the BCG declaring that it would support any Biafran independence movement 61 A few days later the MASSOB led by Ralph Uwazuruike endorsed the BCG 30 However Asari Dokubo and Nnamdi Kanu had previously quarrelled with each other and the rivalry continued after the BCG s formation especially after some IPOB leaders had officially switched allegiance to the BCG 33 Internationally IPOB gained the support of the Ambazonia Governing Council AGovC an Ambazonian separatist movement led by Ayaba Cho Lucas and with its own armed wing the Ambazonia Defence Forces ADF In April IPOB and AGovC moved towards a formal alliance 62 This move was not unprecedented as the BNL BNYL had already openly aligned itself with Ambazonian separatists in 2017 63 While separatist movements formed a unified front militants escalated the war Soon after the formation of the BCG the BNL declared that it had taken control over creeks and bushes in the Bakassi Peninsula and threatened to hijack any oil vessels coming from there 4 On 19 March gunmen attacked a prison and a police station in Ekwulobia releasing several prisoners and killing two policemen and two prison officials but failing to burn down the police station IPOB denied any involvement 64 On 15 March the ESN invaded Eleme to expel Fulani herders A week into the ESN offensive Fulani raiders invaded Agbonchia and committed atrocities against the civilian population 65 On 5 April armed men stormed a prison in Owerri enabling some 1 800 inmates to escape The Nigerian government blamed IPOB which in turn denied any involvement 66 In mid April state governors announced the formation of Ebube Agu a pro government security network IPOB declared that the ESN was sufficient and alleged that the true purpose of Ebube Agu was to fight the ESN 17 On 14 April armed men launched several attacks in Njikoka and hoisted a Biafran flag Before the attack Nnamdi Kanu had accused the Nigerian government of plotting false flag attacks to destroy the image of ESN 67 On 24 April the top ESN commander known as Ikonso was killed when the Nigerian Army allegedly raided an ESN camp in Imo State IPOB blamed governor Hope Uzodinma as their intelligence stated he was killed in his house 68 After less than 24 hours IPOB announced that a new top commander had been instated 69 In May the Biafran National Guard BNG now headed by the so called Biafran Supreme Military Council of Administration BSMCA which posed as high command of the restored Biafran Armed Forces declared its intent to conquer southeastern Nigeria starting with Anambra State 23 A group of armed youth separatists of unknown affiliation in southern Nigeria In early June President Buhari tweeted a warning to southeastern Nigerians in response to the IPOB insurgency Regarding the tweet as incitement to violence Twitter deleted it prompting the Nigerian government to ban Twitter entirely from 5 June 6 On 8 June the Nigerian Police raided and destroyed another ESN camp in Imo State reportedly freeing a kidnapped policewoman 70 In mid June IPOB allied with the Oduduwa Volunteer Force for the Liberation of Southern Nigeria The latter was a force of Yoruba separatists who advocate the establishment of the Oduduwa Republic The two separatist groups announced the formation of the Biafra and Oduduwa Volunteer Force to coordinate their efforts to fight armed Fulani herders 2 21 Meanwhile Imo State authorities claimed that IPOB militants had killed 128 security personnel since the insurgency s start IPOB strongly denied these claims arguing that it remained committed to non violent solutions and had no interest in openly fighting against Nigerian security forces 71 Soon after the Nigerian Army raided Abia and clashed with the ESN resulting in death of six soldiers This counter insurgency operation reportedly resulted in many civilians fleeing Elu Amangwu and Amekpu out of fear of government reprisals 72 Furthermore the verbal struggle between the separatist leaders Asari Dokubo and Kanu worsened due to both accusing each other of embezzling funds of the separatist movement 33 In late June Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi accused IPOB of murdering northerners while bandits only abducted students for money In response IPOB leader Kanu reiterated that the ESN was primarily concerned with combating banditry by Fulani jihadists and accused Gumi of becoming a mouthpiece for bandits and terrorists 73 In addition five governors of southeastern Nigerian states denounced pro Biafran groups resulting in IPOB 74 and the BNL condemning the governors in turn 75 In addition the BNL publicly threatened to expand the insurgency arguing that the Biafran separatists also should continue fighting against Cameroon in the Bakassi conflict The group threatened to launch pirate raids against Nigerian and Cameroonian vessels in the Gulf of Guinea 11 Arrest of Nnamdi Kanu and strikes in the southeast Edit On 27 June Nnamdi Kanu was arrested by Interpol in Kenya or another location 76 77 extradited to Nigeria and handed over to Nigerian authorities The latter stated that the IPOB leader is supposed to face trial Meanwhile President Buhari referenced the separatist unrest in a TV interview declaring that the Igbo people were a dot in a circle and could be easily crushed 78 79 80 81 Kanu s arrest precluded a confrontation with his separatist rival Asari Dokubo who had threatened a clampdown on the IPOB leader shortly before 82 Following the IPOB leader s detention his self acclaimed disciple Simon Ekpa rose to prominence promising that Biafran activists would prevent the Anambra State gubernatorial election of November 2021 9 The Nigerian government also managed to arrest Sunday Adeyemo aslias Sunday Igboho a Yoruba separatist leader in Benin 24 In early July security forces arrested ESN commander Emeoyiri Uzorma Benjamin alias Onye Army accusing him and his followers of killings destruction of property and atrocities in Imo State 83 In the same month ESN fighters attacked a military checkpoint at Adani Uzo Uwani killing two soldiers 84 85 Following several raids by the security forces against ESN camps militants allegedly murdered Paschal Okeke a juju priest The ESN militants were reportedly upset that his protective charms had failed to shield them from the government 86 In late July a military officer was injured by suspected ESN militants in Ohafia Abia reportedly prompting security forces to take revenge by storming the town and destroying several houses 87 In early August Amnesty International declared that Nigerian security forces had killed 115 civilians and militants since the unrest s start while the government stated that 127 members of the security forces had been killed Amnesty International argued that the security forces had made numerous arbitrary arrests of often uninvolved civilians and accused them of human rights abuses 24 On 9 August IPOB supporters began a stay at home protest for the release of Kanu Despite orders by the government to ignore IPOB s calls for the action a majority in several settlements across southeastern Nigeria complied with the lockdown Militant separatists burned at least three buses whose drivers had not taken part in the protest and continued to work 88 Kanu s trial began in Abuja in October 2021 with him pleading non guilty The trial was accompanied by protests of the separatist leader s supporters and Voice of America journalist Timothy Obiezu argued that IPOB appeared to gaining strength instead of losing it A new sit at home strike affected southeastern Nigeria shutting down most services and businesses there 89 Exercise Golden Dawn increasing intra Biafran tensions and clashes at Bakassi Edit Biafra Nations League militants seal pictured 11 temporarily took control of a border crossing in November 2021 From early October 2021 the 302 Artillery Regiment led by Col Abdulkarim Usman launched Exercise Golden Dawn an operation aimed at combating MASSOB IPOB ESN and other anti government groups in Anambra State 8 On 8 November the BNL took control of a border crossing between Akpabuyo and Bakassi blocking the road leading to the Peninsula and raising the Biafran flag The militants retreated before a Nigerian Armed Forces contingent arrived 90 The BNL consequently claimed that it had taken control of parts of Bakassi setting up its headquarters there and declaring that it was mobilizing its marine members for a show of force Reactions to the BNL activities were mixed at the border communities with some protesting against and others for the group 91 In this month the BNG also looted a number of shops resulting in IPOB dismissing it as a criminal group In response BNG claimed that they had acquired military rockets in preparation for the secessionist war 12 From December 2021 the governors in the five southeastern states of Nigeria were tasked by the government to finally organize the Ebube Agu security network IPOB once again denounced these efforts arguing that such outfits had previously failed to counter bandits and that the new force was still aimed at countering the ESN 92 On Christmas Eve 2021 the ESN raided Akpawfu In response Nigerian Army troops involved in Exercise Golden Dawn attacked a nearby location suspected of harboring ESN militants The military claimed that it arrested an important ESN commander named Godwin Nnamdi after a short firefight 93 In contrast the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law claimed that the army had actually detained Godwin Nnaji a civilian with IPOB sympathies and falsely portrayed him as an ESN leader 94 In January 2022 tensions further rose regionally and locally IPOB began boycotting northern products such as cow meat in the southeast whereupon northerners called for boycotts of southeastern goods 95 At the same time Dokubo Asari called for the execution of all IPOB members signifying the growing tensions among the Biafran separatists BNL condemned Asari s call for violence arguing that IPOB had indeed sidelined and offended other Biafran groups but that this should not cause violent infighting among the anti government forces 96 In this month suspected IPOB members also abducted an ex Assembly speaker and four others in Imo State 97 while the Nigerian Armed Forces claimed the destruction of an IPOB ESN stronghold in Lilu forest at Ihiala 13 Fighting also became more intense at Bakassi as BNL clashed with the Nigerian and Cameroonian militaries and attempted to prevent ships from approaching the peninsula 1 On 1 February claims began to circulate on social media according to which Black Marine a group suspected of being part of the BNL had killed a Nigerian Navy officer at Oron Beach The Nigerian Navy stated that these claims were false 19 A few days later the Nigerian Army claimed to have killed four ESN militants at Ihiala 98 On 15 February gunmen suspected to be separatists killed eight traders and 51 cows at a market in Aba IPOB denied responsibility 99 On the same day Ekpa declared that IPOB would no longer take orders from Kanu as he could not lead the group from prison However a large section of IPOB disapproved of Ekpa s position 10 The strikes in the southeast also continued and even many schools remained closed 100 In late February gunmen suspected to be IPOB ESN members attacked Ekwulobia and Oko killing 12 and kidnapping several others 101 On 13 April a BNL commander was killed by the Cameroonian military in Idabato Bakassi 102 On 26 April reports began circulating that two military gunboats has been bombed by Black Marine a suspected arm wing of BnL who also claimed responsibility for the attack 103 Few days later 23 persons were arrested in Ikom a border town in Cross River State by the Police at first it was reported that they were members of MASSOB later BnL confirmed 17 of them are their members arrested in their houses outside the main town the remaining 6 who are Igbo traders were arrested inside a shop in the main town 104 On Friday 13 May 2022 suspected militants of BnL attacked the Ikang jetty in Bakassi Area of Cross River State killing a Police officer and injuring many others this is barely a week after the Police arrested 23 members of BnL in Ikom 105 In the second half of May suspected IPOB militants carried out a series of killings Okechukwu Okoye a member of the Anambra State House of Assembly and his aide were abducted and murdered on 15 May 106 107 seven days later separatist militants murdered 11 northerners in Anambra State a pregnant woman and her four children in Orumba North five commercial motorcycle riders in Onocha and a salesman at Nnanka 108 109 On July 23 five Cameroonian soldiers were killed when they invaded a BNL camp in Bakassi the BNL lost one fighter during the clash 110 References Edit a b c Cameroon Army engage Biafra League militia in gun battle in Gulf of Guinea National Daily 25 January 2022 Retrieved 6 March 2022 a b Biafra and Oduduwa Volunteer Force Ipob na ndị otu Oduduwa ehibela otu nchekwa ọhụrụ BBC in Igbo 16 June 2021 Retrieved 22 June 2021 a b Orlu Nnamdi Kanu orders ESN to ceasefire against Army watchful of Fulani herdsmen Daily Post 28 January 2021 Accessed 28 January 2021 a b c We ll unleash mayhem hoist Biafran flags in Nigeria Cameroon BNL boasts Daily Post 17 March 2021 Accessed 18 March 2021 a b c Second Nigeria Biafra War Has Just Started But We Will Defend Our Land IPOB Sahara Reports 19 February 2021 Accessed 20 February 2021 a b Timothy Obiezu 5 June 2021 Millions of Nigerian Twitter Users Blocked as Ban Takes Hold VOA Retrieved 22 June 2021 a b ESN ARMY CLASH IN ORLU Mbazulike Amechi MASSOB others allege hidden agenda Vanguard 27 January 2021 Accessed 30 January 2021 a b c Insecurity Army launches Exercise Golden Dawn in Anambra Vanguard 4 October 2021 Retrieved 6 March 2022 a b Nsikak Nseyen 11 August 2021 Anambra There ll be no election in Biafraland Nnamdi Kanu s disciple Ekpa Daily Post Retrieved 17 August 2021 a b Biafra IPOB no longer takes order from Kanu National Daily 15 February 2022 Retrieved 6 March 2022 a b c Your alliance is Dead on arrival Biafra Nations League BNL tells Buhari Biya The Nigerian Voice 14 July 2021 Retrieved 25 November 2021 a b Biafra National Guard unveils rockets threatens Nigerian Army National Daily 4 November 2021 Retrieved 6 March 2022 a b c d Security operatives hit IPOB stronghold in Anambra recover arms others Guardian 19 January 2022 Retrieved 6 March 2022 a b c d Military Jet Combs Orlu Communities For ESN Operatives After Failed Land Combat Sahara Reporters 27 January 2021 Accessed 28 January 2021 a b 28 policemen killed in three months The Nation 1 March 2021 Accessed 1 March 2021 a b c Imo police arrest 10 officers for abusing Orlu residents The Guardian 30 January 2021 Accessed 30 January 2021 a b S East govs IPOB on collision course over Ebube Agu Vanguard 14 April 2021 Accessed 14 April 2021 a b Nigerian Soldiers Resigned To Join Kanu s Eastern Network Military Sources Sahara Reporters 22 January 2021 Accessed 22 January 2021 a b Navy refutes reported attack on its officers by militants Guardian 2 February 2022 Retrieved 6 March 2022 Asari Dokubo asking Niger Delta to join Biafra is a suicide mission PM News 17 March 2021 Accessed 18 March 2021 a b Biafra Oduduwa Have Formed Joint Force To Protect Southern Nigeria Vowed To Die Together IPOB Spokesman Sahara Reporters 14 June 2021 Retrieved 22 June 2021 The Restoration Of Biafra Sovereignty Is Sacrosanct The 247ureports 5 July 2021 Retrieved 24 August 2021 a b John Owen Nwachukwu 24 May 2021 We are taking over Biafran territories starting from Anambra on May 30 BNG claims Daily Post Retrieved 24 August 2021 a b c d 115 Killed in Military Crackdown in Nigeria Amnesty VOA AFP 4 August 2021 Retrieved 18 August 2021 Orlu Crisis Imo Eastern Security Network ESN clash wit soldiers Uzodinma impose curfew Wetin we know so far BBC 25 January 2021 Accessed 28 January 2021 Pidgin a b Nobody can stop us Asari Dokubo declares Biafra government The Cable 14 March 2021 Accessed 15 March 2021 a b Mannir Dan Ali 30 November 2015 Letter from Africa Should new calls for Biafra worry Nigerians BBC Retrieved 12 March 2021 a b c Cai Nebe Muhammad Bello 27 January 2021 Nigerian military reshuffle belies serious security concerns DW Retrieved 12 March 2021 a b Kathryn Nwajiaku Dahou 2009 Heroes and Villains Ijaw Nationalist Narratives of the Nigerian Civil War Africa development Afrique et developpement Retrieved 18 March 2021 a b Biafra Uwazuruike MASSOB back Asari Dokubo The Nation 18 March 2021 Accessed 20 March 2021 Nwachukwu John Owen 7 November 2020 Rivers killings Biafra group attacks Nnamdi Kanu for demanding Gov Wike s capture John Wale Odunsi 15 September 2017 Biafra National Guard blasts Buhari charges Igbos to fight Nigerian Army Daily Post Retrieved 24 August 2021 a b c Biafra Struggle How Nnamdi Kanu Asari Dokubo Fell Out Sahara Reporters 15 June 2021 Retrieved 22 June 2021 Nigeria New clashes after security forces break up meeting of Biafran separatists France24 26 August 2020 Accessed 30 August 2020 No meeting in Enugu for now we will retaliate IPOB Vanguard 24 August 2020 Accessed 27 August 2020 Nigeria IPOB Denies Responsibility for Attacks On Security Agents in Southeast AllAfrica 27 September 2020 Accessed 28 September 2020 Eastern Security Network Over 8 buildings including church allegedly burnt one feared dead in Imo Vanguard 25 January 2021 Accessed 25 January 2021 Soldiers Invade IPOB Eastern Security Network s Operational Base Kill Five Burn Church Others SaharaReporters 25 January 2021 Accessed 25 January 2021 Orlu killing Imo State Eastern Security Network ESN crisis kill four soldiers Police Nnamdi Kanu react BBC 26 January 2021 Accessed 26 January 2021 Tension heightens in Orlu as Nigerian govt deploys over 400 soldiers Daily Post 28 January 2021 Accessed 28 January 2021 Orlu on standstill as residents desert town The Nation 28 January 2021 Accessed 28 January 2021 Imo Clash Nnamdi Kanu Orders ESN Operatives To Cease Fire Return To Forests Sahara Reporters 28 January 2021 Accessed 28 January 2021 IPOB gives Southeast governors 14 days ultimatum to ban open grazing The Nation 30 January 2021 Accessed 30 January 2021 Herdsmen Flee As IPOB s Eastern Security Network Invades Fulani Camp In Abia Kills Many Cows Sahara Reporters 31 January 2021 Accessed 1 February 2021 IPOB hails Southeast Governors ban on open grazing The Nation 2 February 2021 Accessed 2 February 2021 ESN Army deploys soldiers helicopters in Orlu Punch 18 February 2021 Accessed 18 February 2021 Orlu soldiers ESN members in gun battle Vanguard 18 February 2021 Accessed 18 February 2021 Tension As Nigerian Military Conducts Air Strikes In Orlu In Search Of ESN Sahara Reporters 18 February 2021 Accessed 18 February 2021 Heavy gunfire in Anambra Imo communities as military engages IPOB s ESN The Sun 19 February 2021 Accessed Sun 19 2021 Joint Security Team Sacks IPOB Security Network From Imo Forest Sahara Reporters 22 February 2021 Accessed 22 February 2021 Breaking Troops arrest 20 IPOB members recover arms hand them to Police Vanguard 22 February 2021 Accessed 22 February 2021 Flying military helicopter over Imo community declaration of war IPOB Premium Times Nigeria 18 February 2021 Accessed 18 February 2021 a b Imo Biafra group issues threat over military raid Uzodinma s comments on IPOB ESN Daily Post 20 February 2021 Accessed 24 February 2021 Gunmen kill four policemen at checkpoint in Anambra The Nation 24 February 2021 Accessed 24 February 2021 Four police officers killed in Calabar Official Premium Times 28 February 2021 Accessed 28 February 2021 Gunmen raze another police station in Nigeria s South east Premium Times 26 February 2021 Accessed 26 February 2021 BREAKING Again gunmen kill two police officers in Cross River Premium Times 3 March 2021 Accessed 3 March 2021 MASSOB berates Uzodimma condemns attack on Abia police station The Punch 25 February 2021 Accessed 25 February 2021 Protect Igbo Communities In Benue Or ESN Will Move In IPOB Tells Governor Ortom Sahara Reporters 5 March 2021 Accessed 5 March 2021 ESN Has Captured Notorious Fulani Bandits Leader Terrorising Benue Others Mohammed Isa Nnamdi Kanu Sahara Reporters 8 March 2021 Accessed 8 March 2021 IPOB backs Dokubo s declaration of Biafra The Nation 18 March 2021 Accessed 18 March 2021 BREAKING Nnamdi Kanu Ambazonia leader to address joint world press conference April 9 Vanguard 5 April 2021 Accessed 7 April 2021 Southern Cameroun joins IPOB in Biafra struggle Sun News Online 18 April 2017 Gunmen kill two policemen two prison warders in Anambra The Nation 20 March 2021 Accessed 20 March 2021 ESN Operatives Storm Rivers Community In Full Force To Evict Fulani Herdsmen Sahara Reporters 22 March 2021 Accessed 23 March 2021 More than 1 800 prisoners escape in Nigeria BBC 5 April 2021 Accessed 6 April 2021 Gunmen Attack Anambra Community Destroy Vehicles Hoist Biafran Flag Sahara Reporters 15 April 2021 Accessed 15 April 2021 Killing of ESN top commander Hope Uzodinma has stirred hornet nest IPOB Vanguard 24 April 2021 Accessed 24 April 2021 Another ESN commander has taken over IPOB mocks Army Vanguard 25 April 2021 Accessed 25 April 2021 Ochogwu Sunday 8 June 2021 Police dislodge ESN camp in Imo set buildings ablaze photo Daily Post Retrieved 25 June 2021 Seun Opejobi 10 June 2021 IPOB clears air on killing 128 security personnel in Imo Daily Post Retrieved 25 June 2021 Wale Odunsi 14 June 2021 IPOB ESN We re not on vengeance mission Army defends raids on Abia communities Daily Post Retrieved 25 June 2021 Seun Opejobi 24 June 2021 IPOB vs bandits You re terrorists main sponsor in Nigeria Nnamdi Kanu attacks Gumi Daily Post Retrieved 25 June 2021 Wale Odunsi 22 June 2021 You re hypocrites Nnamdi Kanu attacks Southeast govs for disowning IPOB Daily Post Retrieved 25 June 2021 Wale Odunsi 22 June 2021 Southeast govs misleading people with Igbo presidency Biafra group on anti IPOB comments Daily Post Retrieved 25 June 2021 Where was Nnamdi Kanu arrested Ipob leader arrest extradition location Wetin we sabi BBC in Nigerian Pidgin 30 June 2021 Retrieved 3 July 2021 How Nigeria arrested secessionist leader Nnamdi Kanu DW 30 June 2021 Retrieved 3 July 2021 Nnamdi Kanu Nigeria arrests Biafra separatist leader BBC 29 June 2021 Retrieved 29 June 2021 Biafran separatist leader arrested and will face trial Nigeria says Reuters 29 June 2021 Retrieved 29 June 2021 Nnamdi Kanu arrest in Nigeria Ipob Nnamdi Kanu dey arrested go appear for court BBC Jun 29 2021 Accessed Jun 29 2021 Pidgin THEWILL 29 June 2021 EXCLUSIVE Finally In DSS Custody Nnamdi Kanu Arrested In Ethiopia Retrieved 29 June 2021 Ochogwu Sunday 29 July 2021 Biafra belongs to Ijaw not Igbos Asari Dokubo recounts history of agitation Daily Post Retrieved 17 August 2021 Eastern Security Network Commander Makes Shocking Claims About Nnamdi Kanu After Arrest Sahara Reporters 3 July 2021 Retrieved 17 August 2021 Men of IPOB s Eastern Security Network kill two soldiers in Enugu Guardian 14 July 2021 Retrieved 17 August 2021 Two soldiers die as troops repel suspected ESN attack at Enugu Guardian 14 July 2021 Retrieved 17 August 2021 ESN group allegedly kills Imo juju priest Guardian 11 August 2021 Retrieved 17 August 2021 How Nigerian Soldiers Killed One Razed Houses In Abia Communities To Avenge Colleague Sahara Reporters 29 July 2021 Retrieved 17 August 2021 Timothy Obiezu 9 August 2021 IPOB Separatists Lockdown Protest Takes Hold in Nigeria s Southeast VOA Retrieved 18 August 2021 Timothy Obiezu 22 October 2021 Nigeria Separatist Leader Pleads Not Guilty to Charges at Start of Trial VOA Retrieved 25 October 2021 Renewed border tension Biafra League barricades entrance to Bakassi hoist flag National Daily 8 November 2021 Retrieved 17 November 2021 Biafra League encroaches Cameroon border hoists Biafra flag at Bakassi Peninsula entrance National Daily 21 November 2021 Retrieved 25 November 2021 IPOB rejects establishment of Ebubeagu security outfit in South East Guardian 21 December 2021 Retrieved 6 March 2022 Army arrests IPOB leader in Enugu recovers arm Guardian 27 December 2021 Retrieved 6 March 2022 Group faults army over claim of IPOB ESN commander s arrest in Enugu Guardian 30 December 2021 Retrieved 6 March 2022 Coalition tells Northerners to boycott goods from South East Guardian 7 January 2022 Retrieved 6 March 2022 BnL condemns Dokubo Asari s call for execution of IPOB members Guardian 28 January 2022 Retrieved 6 March 2022 Gunmen abduct ex Assembly speaker four others in Imo Guardian 11 January 2022 Retrieved 6 March 2022 Troops neutralise IPOB leader 3 others in Anambra Army Guardian 9 February 2022 Retrieved 6 March 2022 Gunmen kill eight traders 51 cows in Nigerian market Guardian 9 February 2022 Retrieved 6 March 2022 Concerns over incessant sit at home in South East Guardian 20 February 2022 Retrieved 6 March 2022 Fear grips Anambra communities as gunmen kill 12 in Oko Ekwulobia Guardian 1 March 2022 Retrieved 6 March 2022 Cameroonian Military Kills Biafra Nations League Commander Sahara Reporters 16 April 2022 Retrieved 16 April 2022 Biafra Militant Group Bombs Two Military Gunboats In Bakassi Pro Biafra group BnL begs Police to release members Suspected Secessionists Attack Bakassi Jetty Kill Policeman Reuters Story by Severed head of missing Nigerian lawmaker found in park police say CNN Anambra Assembly Condemns Barbaric Murder Of Lawmaker Tasks Soludo On Security IPOB kills woman 4 kids 6 other northerners in Anambra Daily Trust 24 May 2022 Many Vacate Anambra Communities As Terrorists Kill Mother Children 24 May 2022 Casualties as Biafra group clashes with Cameroonian soldiers Daily Post 23 July 2022 Retrieved 24 July 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Insurgency in Southeastern Nigeria amp oldid 1128006645, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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