3.5. Biafra separatists Area affected: the South-East, in particular the Igbo states Root of the conflict: political independence ambitions The post-independence civil war, known as the Biafran War, took place between 1967 and 1970, killing over a million people, with some sources pointing to about two million, including many ci- vilians. Barely 50 years later, south-eastern Nigeria, particularly the Igbo ethnic group who fought hardest for the independence of the Republic of Biafra, still have it very much in mind. Parents and grandparents were part of the fight for Biafra and the scars remain. For these, mostly Nigerian Christians of the Igbo eth- nic group, but not exclusively, Biafra represents the aspirations of the broader south-eastern population, which feels it cannot coexist with a government dominated by the agenda and the in- terests of the mostly Muslim Hausa-Fulanis of Northern Nigeria. Tensions are rising in the Igbo states of Imo, Abia, Enugu, Anam- bra and Ebonyi States. Corruption, arbitrary violence, land rival- ries, ethnic strife, religious differences and government neglect have led to a resurgence of secessionist militants demanding independence.
For the Igbo the land is sacred and the conflict with the Fulani increases the tensions. Most of the pro-Biafra groups in the sou- theast region are campaigning for greater autonomy by peacefu- lly protesting against the Nigerian federal government. However, in the context of a growing separatist movement in the region, clashes between the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and government forces have erupted. A wave of violence hit southeast Nigeria in the first six months of 2022, with an 80% in- crease in incidents compared to the same period of the previous year. Unidentified armed groups are responsible for more than half of these cases. The attacks were often blamed on IPOB and its security outfit, the Eastern Security Network (ESN). However, IPOB has denied involvement and it blames bandits and Fula- ni herdsmen for the actions, calling on people “to rise and unite against” them 13 . The Federal Government declared IPOB a terrorist group, and threw its founder, Nnamdi Kanu in jail, where he remains. IPOB has continued to issue intermittent sit-at-home orders as protest against it. Extreme violence against civilians by Nigeria’s security forces and arbitrary killings have motivated young men to join the militant groups in the region.
Soldiers fighting for the breakaway Republic of Biafra march during the Nigerian Civil War, fought from 1967 to 1970. Wikimedia Commons
3.6. Niger delta militants Area affected: Niger Delta, in southern Nigeria Root of the conflict: corruption, robbery, social injustice, environmental damage For more than two decades, the Niger Delta has been characte- rized by protests led by communities demanding environmen- tal protection and militia groups protesting the exclusion of the people from the benefits of the oil industry. Social injustice and poverty are the two drivers of the demonstrators. There is a real
anger in the Niger Delta. Many fishermen and farmers in the re- gion have seen their livelihoods destroyed by land and water pollution. The protest evolved into an insurgency in 2005 and gave rise to a proliferation of armed groups. In 2009 there was an amnesty agreement from the Government of Nigeria, which imposed the disarmament of armed groups, small and large. The ex-militants handed over weapons and ammunition ranging from rocket launchers, AK-47 rifles, pump-action rifles, machine guns and gunboats.
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