The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called for an independent, internationally supervised inquiry into insecurity in Nigeria’s South-East, accusing the federal government and military of concealing the true causes of violence in the region.
In a statement on Friday, IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful rejected remarks attributed to Major General Michael Onoja, describing them as “recycled propaganda,” and challenged authorities to submit evidence for public scrutiny.
“For years, IPOB has repeatedly demanded a full, open inquiry into South-East insecurity, led by an impartial judge, preferably from South Africa, beyond the reach of Nigerian political manipulation,” the statement said. IPOB asked why the government refuses to allow such scrutiny if its narrative is accurate.
Onoja had claimed that security in the South-East improved after the imprisonment of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu and self-styled Biafra Nation activist Simon Ekpa. He said crimes and other criminal activities had declined due to sustained military pressure and court rulings against IPOB leadership.
IPOB, however, said it “has nothing to hide” and urged international organizations, including the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union, and the United States, to support the establishment of the inquiry.
The group cited historical incidents of alleged state violence against civilians, including the 2016 Nkpor killings, Aba National High School attack, the invasion of Kanu’s home, the Zaria Shiite clashes, the Odi and Zaki-Biam operations, and the 2020 Lekki Toll Gate shootings.
IPOB accused politicians and security officials of cultivating militias and criminal gangs before blaming IPOB when violence escalated, describing this as “scapegoating and deflection.” The group also criticized Nigeria’s major political parties, the APC and PDP, for what it described as a nationwide collapse of security.
In its demands, IPOB called for a judge-led public inquiry, full access to security records, protection for whistleblowers, and the immediate and unconditional release of Kanu. “If Nigeria has nothing to hide, it should welcome scrutiny,” the group said, warning that refusal to allow an independent inquiry would deepen suspicions.
According to Powerful, “The government is not afraid of IPOB, but afraid of being exposed. History is patient, and history always catches up.”
