#AreteDeepDive – Security in South-Eastern Nigeria
The widespread protests of 12 June focussed attention on the diverse and dynamic security situation that pervades much of Nigeria. One area of particular concern is that of the South-East region comprising of the five Igbo heartland states of Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Abia. The simmering tension around the secessionist movement known as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is slowly coming to a boil. Increasingly frequent attacks on security forces, primarily police stations, by so-called ‘unknown gunmen’ are elevating the tensions to the point where the population of the region expects a widespread and vigorous clampdown by security forces.
Tension in parts of Imo State is palpable. The Orlu Local Government Area (LGA) became a focal point of security forces operations in recent months and anecdotal information from the community there describes a real fear of violence. Children were not attending school and people were staying at home, only moving around the area when essential. However, according to one local source, concerted security forces action in Orlu has forced IPOB to relocate its resources to Akokwa in the Ideato North LGA, and life is slowly returning to normal in Orlu.
Support for IPOB among the Igbo population of the region, and further afield, is fragmentary. Many people resent the impact security forces activity has had on their communities as a result of the IPOB campaign. IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu is widely regarded as an opportunist who cares little about the people of Biafra and who is more interested in building a personal power base and acquiring wealth. However, his followers and supporters are numerous among indigenous Nigerians and the diaspora. His influence and ability to mobilise large numbers of people will remain a problem for the Nigerian government and its security forces for the foreseeable future.
Many people fear a widespread backlash against Igbo communities and businesses across the country. Numerous agitators on both sides of the discussion are contributing to this tension. Many among the Igbo believe another Biafra conflict is inevitable. They fear that IPOB will continue to provoke the security forces and Federal Government until patience in Abuja runs out, unleashing a full-scale counterinsurgency campaign in the South-East Region. For now, the Biafran pot has not reached boiling point, but it has the potential to do so rapidly. Nevertheless, the situation in the region is impacting heavily on local commercial activity and security forces activity might impede movement for business travellers to and within the region.
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