Insurgency in Southeastern Nigeria

See also: 2024 Aba killings
Insurgency in Southeastern Nigeria
Part of the herder–farmer conflicts in Nigeria and the conflict in the Niger Delta

     Separatist presence
     Government presence
     Contested
Date16 January 2021 – present[3]
(3 years, 10 months and 6 days)
Location
Former Eastern Region of Nigeria, plus Delta State and Benue State
(spillover into Bakassi, Cameroon)[4][1]
Status

Ongoing

Belligerents
 Nigeria
Spillover into Bakassi:
 Cameroon[1]		 Republic of Biafra Biafran separatists
Oduduwa separatists (only against Fulani herders)[2]
Commanders and leaders
Bola Ahmed Tinubu
(President of Nigeria)
Ibrahim Attahiru
(Chief of Army Staff)
Ibrahim Tukura
(Brig. Gen. of 34 Brigade)[7]
Hope Uzodinma
(Imo State Governor)
Abdulkarim Usman[8]
(Col. of 302 Artillery Regiment)		 Nnamdi Kanu (POW)
(Leader of IPOB)
Emma Powerful[9]
(IPOB/ESN commander)
Chinasa Nworu[9]
(IPOB/ESN commander)
Simon Ekpa[10]
(leading IPOB member, later BLA and BRGIE leader)[11][12]
Asari-Dokubo
(Head of BCG)
Princewill Chimezie Richard[13]
(BNL leader)
Innocent Orji[14]
(BNG leader)
Units involved

Nigerian Armed Forces

Nigeria Police Force[18]

  • Imo State Police Command[18]

State Security Service[15]
Ebube Agu[19]

Armed Fulani raiders[20]

Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)

Biafra Nations League (BNL)[4]

Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE)[11]

"Angry Vipers"[24]
Niger Delta militants[25]
Oduduwa Volunteer Force for the Liberation of Southern Nigeria[26]
Biafran National Guard (BNG) / Biafran Supreme Military Council of Administration[27][28]
Casualties and losses
127 killed (government claim as of Aug. 2021)[29] Unknown
115 civilians and militants killed (acc. Amnesty International as of Aug. 2021)[29]

The insurgency in Southeastern Nigeria is a military conflict that broke out in the city of Orlu, Imo State, Nigeria on 16 January 2021, when the Nigerian Army moved to crush the paramilitary wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the Eastern Security Network (ESN).[30] The conflict escalated after the ESN managed to repulse the initial push by the Nigerian Army,[16] but IPOB ended the initial crisis by unilaterally withdrawing the ESN from Orlu. After a few weeks of quiet, Nigeria launched a military offensive in the area to destroy the ESN. On 19 February 2021, IPOB declared that as of the day before, a state of war existed between Nigeria and Biafra.[5] Three weeks later, another separatist group declared the formation of a Biafran interim government which was subsequently endorsed by IPOB.[31] Since then, the Biafran separatists have begun to form alliances with other separatist groups in Nigeria and Cameroon. Despite these developments, the separatists claimed that their militant operations were mainly aimed at defending local communities from armed herders and bandits instead of fighting the Nigerian government. In late June, IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu was arrested by Interpol and handed over to Nigerian authorities.

  1. ^ a b "Cameroon Army engage Biafra League militia in gun battle in Gulf of Guinea". National Daily. 25 January 2022. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference bbc was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference dpngjan2820212 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b We’ll unleash mayhem, hoist Biafran flags in Nigeria, Cameroon – BNL boasts Archived 17 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine, Daily Post, 17 March 2021. Accessed 18 March 2021.
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference sahrepfeb192021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Obiezu was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b ESN, ARMY CLASH IN ORLU: Mbazulike Amechi, MASSOB, others allege hidden agenda Archived 30 January 2021 at the Wayback Machine, Vanguard, 27 January 2021. Accessed 30 January 2021.
  8. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Golden Dawn was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ a b "Suspect Names IPOB Spokesman, Emma Powerful, Others As Sponsors Of Terror In South-East Nigeria". Sahara Reporters. 29 December 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference dp11082021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ a b "Nnamdi Kanu's 'Disciple', Ekpa Writes UN, Announces Himself As Prime Minister Of Biafra Government In Exile, Lists Other Ministers, Office Holders". saharareporters.com. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  12. ^ "Biafra: "IPOB no longer takes order from Kanu"". National Daily. 15 February 2022. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  13. ^ "Your alliance is Dead on arrival – Biafra Nations League, BNL, tells Buhari, Biya". The Nigerian Voice. 14 July 2021. Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Biafra National Guard unveils rockets, threatens Nigerian Army". National Daily. 4 November 2021. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  15. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference stromghold was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference sarejan272021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ Cite error: The named reference tnmar12021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ a b Imo police arrest 10 officers for abusing Orlu residents Archived 30 January 2021 at the Wayback Machine, The Guardian, 30 January 2021. Accessed 30 January 2021.
  19. ^ S’East govs, IPOB on collision course over Ebube Agu Archived 14 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine, Vanguard, 14 April 2021. Accessed 14 April 2021.
  20. ^ Cite error: The named reference sahrepjan222021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  21. ^ Cite error: The named reference sahara ekpa was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  22. ^ "pääministeri Herra pääministeri". 21 March 2024.
  23. ^ Cite error: The named reference black marine was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  24. ^ "Biafra: New Armed Group 'Angry Vipers' Threatens South-East Governors, Socialite Obi Cubana Over Nnamdi Kanu's Detention". saharareporters.com. 21 November 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  25. ^ ‘Asari Dokubo asking Niger Delta to join Biafra is a suicide mission’ Archived 17 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine, PM News, 17 March 2021. Accessed 18 March 2021.
  26. ^ Cite error: The named reference sahara was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  27. ^ "The Restoration Of Biafra Sovereignty Is Sacrosanct". The 247ureports. 5 July 2021. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  28. ^ John Owen Nwachukwu (24 May 2021). "We are taking over Biafran territories starting from Anambra on May 30 – BNG claims". Daily Post. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  29. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference afp was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  30. ^ Orlu Crisis: Imo Eastern Security Network (ESN) clash wit soldiers, Uzodinma impose curfew – Wetin we know so far Archived 26 January 2021 at the Wayback Machine, BBC, 25 January 2021. Accessed 28 January 2021. (Pidgin)
  31. ^ Cite error: The named reference thecablengmar142021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).