Separatists' sit-at-home protests lead to 700 deaths in Nigeria's southeast over four years: report
A sit-at-home order by banned separatist group Indigenous People of Biafra in Nigeria's southeast has led to the death of over 700 people in the region over the past four years, an intelligence consultancy said in a new report.
The IPOB, campaigning for the secession of the southeast that is predominantly inhabited by the Igbo ethnic group, has been labelled a terrorist organisation by Nigerian authorities.
SBM Intelligence reported that the fatalities resulted from the killing of civilians who defied the weekly stay-at-home order every Monday and on other specific days, as well as from clashes between the IPOB and Nigerian security forces.
"IPOB's enforcement tactics, including arson, looting and targeted assassinations, have created a climate of fear," the SBM report said. "While there was a high rate of compliance with sit-at-home orders in 2021 (82.61%), surveys reveal that actual support is much lower (29%) now, with many complying under duress."
An IPOB spokesperson denied the group was responsible for the deaths.
"Those causing the killings are the kidnappers and criminals recruited by government to blackmail and demonize IPOB," the spokesperson said.
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