The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has strongly reacted to comments attributed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, alleging that the federal government could use its full security apparatus to suppress the ongoing agitation for Biafra in the South-East region.
In a statement released by the group, IPOB described the remarks as “provocative and dangerous,” warning that such rhetoric could further deepen political tensions in an already sensitive part of the country.
The group insisted that peaceful agitation for self-determination should not be treated as a criminal act, stressing that its activities remain rooted in what it describes as international legal rights to freedom of expression and association.
Although the Senate President has not issued an additional clarification at the time of this report, IPOB maintained that any attempt to frame the movement as a purely security threat would only worsen the situation in the South-East.
The organisation further cautioned federal authorities against what it called “militarised responses” to political grievances, arguing that dialogue remains the only sustainable path to resolving long-standing disputes in the region.
Security analysts note that separatist agitation in the South-East has remained a recurring national issue, with the federal government previously designating IPOB as a proscribed group, a position that has shaped ongoing military and law enforcement operations in the region.
In recent years, security operations in the South-East have intensified amid clashes involving armed elements linked to separatist factions and government forces. Authorities have repeatedly maintained that such operations are necessary to restore law and order.
However, IPOB continues to reject allegations of widespread violence, insisting that its struggle is ideological and rooted in historical grievances dating back to the Nigerian Civil War era.
The group urged the international community and human rights organisations to pay closer attention to what it described as “rising political suppression” in the country.
Meanwhile, reactions from political observers remain divided, with some calling for restraint in political communication, while others argue that national unity must remain the priority in addressing separatist movements.
As tensions continue to simmer, stakeholders are calling for renewed dialogue between federal authorities and regional interest groups to prevent further escalation.
