IPOB Denounces Buhari-Era Ban as Political Move to Suppress Biafra’s Self-Determination
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has dismissed its 2017 proscription under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration as politically motivated, rejecting claims that it is a terrorist organization.
In a recent statement, IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, accused the Nigerian government of using judicial manipulation, military force, and political pressure to stifle its peaceful push for self-determination. The group has called for global intervention to address what it describes as human rights violations.
The statement follows ongoing legal and diplomatic disputes surrounding the Nigerian government’s treatment of IPOB and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
“For years, Nigeria has wrongfully labeled our peaceful movement as terrorism without providing any evidence of violent acts,” Powerful asserted.
IPOB cited a 2017 military raid on Kanu’s residence in Abia State as a key moment in the government’s crackdown, alleging that 28 unarmed civilians were killed in what it called a “state-sponsored assassination attempt.”
Shortly after the raid, South-East governors, led by then-Governor Dave Umahi, banned IPOB’s activities a decision the group claims was politically driven and legally baseless. Days later, a Federal High Court in Abuja granted an ex parte order designating IPOB as a terrorist organization.
Powerful argued that the court order bypassed due process and violated Nigeria’s Terrorism Prevention Act and Constitution.
“This shows a breakdown of the rule of law in Nigeria,” he said. “Officials misuse legal procedures to target peaceful activists while failing to distinguish between lawful dissent and terrorism.”
IPOB maintains that its proscription and Kanu’s trial breach multiple human rights laws, including Nigeria’s Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and international covenants protecting self-determination and fair trials.
While a 2023 Enugu High Court ruling declared IPOB’s ban unconstitutional, the case remains pending before the Supreme Court.
IPOB has urged international organizations, foreign governments, and human rights groups to:
- Denounce its proscription as politically motivated.
- Hold Nigerian authorities accountable for alleged rights abuses.
- Support a peaceful resolution, including a referendum on self-determination.
- Monitor Nigerian courts to ensure judicial fairness.
Founded in 2012 by Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB seeks the independence of Biafra, a movement rooted in the 1967–1970 civil war. The group insists its campaign is non-violent, though the Nigerian government accuses it of inciting unrest.
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