A new report by intelligence firm SBM has linked the Indigenous People of Biafra’s (IPOB) sit-at-home campaign in Nigeria’s southeast to more than 700 deaths over the past four years, as violence and insecurity persist in the region.
Launched in August 2021, the sit-at-home order was intended to pressure Nigerian authorities into releasing IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in detention since that year and is currently standing trial on terrorism charges in Abuja. Although IPOB later announced a suspension of the order, enforcement has continued through splinter groups and armed loyalists who have turned the protest into a weekly cycle of intimidation and bloodshed.
According to SBM Intelligence, many of the fatalities occurred as civilians who defied the sit-at-home directive were targeted, while others were caught in clashes between security forces and armed agitators enforcing the order.
“IPOB’s enforcement tactics, including arson, looting, and targeted assassinations, have created a climate of fear,” the report noted. While compliance with the protest was reportedly high in 2021 — at over 80% — support has dropped significantly, with just 29% of residents backing the action today. The report suggests most residents comply out of fear for their safety.
IPOB, which was banned by the Nigerian government and designated a terrorist organization in 2017, has repeatedly distanced itself from the violence. A spokesperson for the group dismissed the SBM findings, accusing the government of sponsoring criminals to tarnish IPOB’s image. “Those causing the killings are the kidnappers and criminals recruited by government to blackmail and demonize IPOB,” the spokesperson claimed.
Despite these denials, law enforcement agencies continue to hold the group responsible for attacks across the region. These include a 2021 prison break and, more recently, the killing of more than 30 travelers, incidents IPOB has denied involvement in.
The ongoing enforcement of the sit-at-home order has had serious economic consequences. According to the report, the region has lost over 7.6 trillion naira (roughly $4.79 billion) due to shutdowns of businesses and public services every Monday and on days when Kanu appears in court.
What began as a symbolic act of resistance has now left communities in the southeast grappling with fear, violence, and deepening economic hardship. As multiple factions jostle for control of IPOB’s narrative, the human and financial toll of the sit-at-home campaign continues to mount.
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