Tension Mounts As IPOB Counters Government, Insists ‘We Are Not Terrorists
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The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has faulted the Federal Government for including it in a recently released terrorism-related list, describing the action as a deliberate attempt to misrepresent its activities and mislead both Nigerians and the international community.
The group made its position known on Monday, April 13, 2026, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful.
The list, which emerged on Saturday, named 48 individuals and 12 organisations allegedly linked to the financing of terrorist activities.
Published by the Nigeria Sanctions Committee under the Office of the National Security Adviser, the document outlined details such as nationalities, alleged roles, and affiliations with groups considered threats to national security.
Among those listed were various individuals and organisations, including Jama’atu Wal-Jihad, Ansarul Sudan, ISWAP, and IPOB, as well as some business entities like West and East Africa General Trading Company, Settings Bureau De Change, and Eagle Square General Trading Company.
In its reaction, IPOB denied any involvement in terrorism or related funding, insisting that its activities are centered on the pursuit of self-determination and should not be classified as violent.
The group also accused the government of using excessive force against its members during peaceful gatherings in the South-East, alleging that protests and meetings have often been disrupted by security operatives, sometimes affecting civilians, including women and children.
IPOB further referenced historical grievances, including the Nigerian Civil War, to highlight what it described as a longstanding pattern of injustice in the region. It also raised concerns over the continued detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, portraying it as part of a broader crackdown on the group.
Questioning the intent behind the terrorism list, IPOB argued that the move was aimed at suppressing dissent rather than addressing genuine security challenges, adding that it remains committed to its cause despite mounting pressure.
