UPDATED: Security Trend Analysis: Is Insurgency 2.0 Fermenting In Nigeria?

Preamble: At the risk of painting a gloomy picture, I dare submit that the tempo of social tension, political entropy, armed conflict, wanton bloodletting, ungoverned spaces, and the centrifugal forces at play in Nigeria is to say the least, ramping up every day and very disturbing. Not to be outdone, Nigeria is increasingly ticking all the right boxes of a fragile state and upping the misery index. To be sure, Nigeria increased from 94.4 index in 2006 to 97.27 index in 2020. Aforesaid upshots in Nigeria are fueled by widening gap in social cohesion, entrenched marginalization, corruption, multidimensional poverty, inequality, injustice, uncurbed proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and attendant quest for the Balkanization of the country by sundry self-determination groups.

Presidency Reacts To Nnamdi Kanu’s Reappearance in Israel

Nnamdi Kanu

The Nigerian Government Tuesday reacted to the reappearance of the Nigerian separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu months after he was declared missing.

Army To Stage Operation Python Dance 3 In The South-East, Warns Pro-Biafra Agitators

The Nigerian Army yesterday said it will soon commence its annual training programme, the ‘Operation Python Dance III’, also known as Exercise Egwu Eke III, in South East States formations and units under 82 Division, Nigerian Army.

IPOB Set For Biafra Referendum, Prints Ballot Papers

The Indigenous People of Biafra has announced plans to hold a referendum towards the ‘peaceful restoration’ of the defunct Republic of Biafra.

Nigerian Govt treated IPOB unjustly – Cardinal Onaiyekan

Mr. Nnamdi Kanu

The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, yesterday decried how the Federal government handled the issue of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), lamenting that injustice was meted out on them.

Nnamdi Kanu Sacked As IPOB Leader, Director of Radio Biafra

The international media arm of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Radio Biafra, has resumed operations.

Postmortem Analysis: Blitzkrieg, ‘Python Dance’, Censor Will Not Curb Biafra, IPOB

Synopsis: This essay is a comprehensive analysis of issues surrounding the disputed proscription, categorization of IPOB as a terrorist organization and the military blitzkrieg codenamed - Operation Python Dance II (Egwu Eke) which was launched in southeast Nigeria on September 15, 2017 by the Nigerian military. As the military operation comes to an end today October 14, 2017, this essay argues that proscribing, censoring IPOB and using the military to rein in Biafra agitators, is tantamount to treating the symptom of an ‘ailment’ hence will not extinguish the recurring, fervent and resilient Biafra Spirit.

Biafra: US Government Says IPOB Not Terrorist Organization

The United States Government has said it does not categorize the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organisation.

In a correspondence with Sunday Punch, the spokesman for the American Embassy in Nigeria, Russell Brooks, also stated that the US was committed to Nigeria’s unity and would support a peaceful resolution of any crisis in the country.

“The United States Government is strongly committed to Nigeria’s unity. Important political and economic issues affecting the Nigerian people, such as the allocation of resources, are worthwhile topics for respectful debate in a democracy.

“Within the context of unity, we encourage all Nigerians to support a de-escalation of tensions and peaceful resolution of grievances.

“The Indigenous People of Biafra is not a terrorist organisation under US law,” he said.

The US embassy, however, declined to comment on whether the Federal Government had asked it to treat IPOB as a terrorist organisation and to block money sent to IPOB from the US.

Last week, the Federal High Court in Abuja, gave a judicial backing the executive order of President Muhammadu Buhari, outlawing the group and its activities in the country.

The court granted the order to proscribe the group on Wednesday.

Culled from: Daily Post Newspaper

Biafra: President Buhari Must Meet Nnamdi Kanu, Says Obasanjo

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari must meet with Biafran secessionist leader Nnamdi Kanu before violence between the army and separatists escalates into a full-blown conflict, according to Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Niger Delta Militants Reiterates October 1st 'Quit Notice' To Northerners, Yoruba

A coalition of of Niger Delta Agitators has said that despite the volte-face by the Arewa youths on the quit notice to the Igbo in the North, it will stand on its position that the northerners and the Yoruba in the oil-rich region must leave before October 1, 2017.

Re: Prospects of Biafra 2.0

Preamble: Any news-savvy individual not ensconced under the rock, not living in another planet in the last couple of years will attest to the strident publicity, increasing appeal of the Biafra independence movement. In addition to the #BiafraAt50 Anniversary cum a very successful sit-at-home order by Biafra campaigners which took place on May 30, 2017 and completely shut down the entire southeast and parts of the south-south, on Aljazeera, July 5, 2017, Aljazeera’s The Stream featured a programme titled - #Biafra50YearsOn: Is Nigeria's secessionist movement re-emerging? Coincidentally, the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, also did a broadcast on July 5/6, 2017 titled -Biafra at 50: The war that changed Nigeria. As the global awareness ramps up…the plot thickens and Nigeria increasingly looks like a country on the brink.

Biafra: Nigeria On The Brink

Introduction: More than one hundred years after disparate nation states with dissimilar cultures, religion, and values amongst others were forcefully amalgamated by British colonialists for administrative convenience, hegemonic aggrandizement and fifty years after a three year civil war, Nigeria simultaneously grapples with insurgency, terrorism, militancy, instability, and recurring agitation for the balkanization of the country. Most of the issues that led to the Nigeria-Biafra civil war were glossed over, remain unresolved. At the end of the civil war the then Head of State, General Gowon bandied the three R’s - reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction - which turned out to be mere clichés, unfulfilled promises.

Biafra: How President Buhari Made Nnamdi Kanu A Folk Hero

Food for Thought: ‘’Now more than ever, people have a hunger to believe in something…bring people together around a cause and you create a motivated force.’’

– Robert Greene, 33 Strategies of War.

Nigerian Army Launch 'Operation Python Dance' in South East Nigeria To Tackle Biafra Secessionists

The Nigerian Army on Monday launched ‘Operation Python Dance’ in South East Nigeria and warned secessionist groups against acts capable of threatening the nation’s sovereignty.

Nigerian Security Agencies Place Prominent Nigerians Under Watch Over Biafra Agitation, Niger Delta Militancy

Strong indications emerged that the Federal Government of Nigeria has placed some prominent personalities under watch, as part of national security measures. According to New Telegraph’s investigation, the government is concerned about threats of secession from some regional groups, particularly the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as well as activities of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

Dissecting The Recurring Agitation For Balkanization of Nigeria (1)

Introduction: It is globally established that the primary responsibility of a sovereign state encompasses the protection, security or safety of lives and properties and creation of the right atmosphere where economic, social activities thrive. Decline or complete absence of such prerequisites by acts of commission or omission implies the sovereign state is inching towards a failed state. For clarity, a ‘’failed or failing state’’, refers to ‘’a political entity or nation in which the government is inept at living up to the basic tasks of a sovereign State, is on the verge of losing or has already lost political authority, control’’. Some of the unmistakable characteristics of a failing/failed sovereign state include very weak institutions, culture of impunity, gross human right abuses, absence of rule of law, unprecedented and entrenched corruption, incessant strife and instability, geometrical depreciation in security, safety of lives and properties, liberty and the standard of living.

Alleged Killing of Northerners in Abia: Nigeria Drifting Towards Rwanda-styled Genocide, Group Warns

Sequel to the supposed killing of some northerners in the South-east by alleged members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a pressure group, the Conference of Minority Tribes of Nigeria has warned that Nigeria may be heading for the 1990 Rwanda styled genocide, if the perpetrators and their sponsors are not brought to justice.

Amnesty International 'Extremely Worried', Investigating Allegation of Extra-judicial Killing of Biafran Activists in Aba

Amnesty Internation­al (AI), the global hu­man rights body, has stated that supporters of the Indigenous Peoples of Bi­afra (IPOB) have a right to free­dom of expression and freedom of assembly.

The organization also noted that it was still investigating dis­turbing reports of the massacre of unarmed members of IPOB and their alleged burial in a mass grave in Aba, Abia State, by Nigerian se­curity operatives.

Security Operatives 'Kill' 10, Injure 20 Pro-Biafra Protesters in Aba

No fewer than 10 persons were reportedly killed and another 20 injured in yesterday’s protest by the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) in Aba, Abia State, when the security agencies fired at protesters.

Militants Hijack Vessel, Kidnap Crew Off Nigerian Coast

The Sun Newspaper reports that militants in support of the agitation by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has claimed responsibility for the hijack of a ship on Friday along the Bakassi Pennisula Nigeria coastal line.