SUNTV Global – January 2, 2026
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called for an internationally supervised public inquiry into the persistent insecurity in Nigeria’s South-East, accusing the federal government and military of hiding the truth behind the region’s violence.
In a statement on Friday, IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful condemned comments from Major General Michael Onoja, describing them as “recycled propaganda,” and challenged authorities to present their claims in an open, transparent forum.
“For years, IPOB has demanded a full, internationally supervised inquiry into South-East insecurity, led by an impartial judge, preferably from South Africa, beyond the reach of political influence,” the group said.
The separatist organization questioned why the government continues to reject such calls. “If the military is confident in its narrative, let the world see the evidence under oath, with witnesses protected and cross-examined,” Powerful said.
Onoja had earlier claimed that security in the South-East has improved following the imprisonment of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu and self-styled Biafra Nation agitator Simon Ekpa, asserting that criminal activity in the region has declined due to sustained military pressure.
But IPOB insists it has “nothing to hide” and urged international bodies—including the UN, African Union, EU, and US—to support the formation of an independent inquiry.
Powerful highlighted past incidents of alleged state violence, including the 2016 Nkpor killings, the Aba National High School incident, the invasion of Kanu’s residence, the Zaria Shiite clashes, the Odi and Zaki-Biam operations, and the 2020 Lekki Toll Gate shootings. “These were not ‘security operations,’ they were attacks on unarmed civilians,” she said.
The group also accused politicians and security forces of allegedly arming militias and criminal gangs before shifting the blame onto IPOB, calling it a “classic scapegoating strategy.” They criticised both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for presiding over what they described as a nationwide collapse of security.
IPOB’s demands include a foreign judge-led inquiry, full access to security records, protection for whistleblowers, and the “immediate and unconditional release” of Nnamdi Kanu.
“If Nigeria has nothing to hide, it should welcome scrutiny,” the group said, warning that continued refusal would only fuel suspicion. “Nigeria is not afraid of IPOB; it is afraid of being exposed. History is patient, and history always catches up.”
