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IMO, ANAMBRA WORST HIT AS SIT-AT-HOME ORDERS CLAIM OVER 700 LIVES IN SOUTH EAST IN FOUR YEARS — REPORT
A new report by SB Morgen Intelligence has revealed a staggering toll of violence in Nigeria’s South-East region, with 776 deaths from 332 recorded attacks linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its enforcement of the controversial sit-at-home order between 2021 and 2025.Nigerian fashion
The report underscored an alarming security crisis that has steadily worsened over the past four years, with Imo and Anambra states bearing the brunt of the devastation.
The report stated that Imo State emerged as the epicentre of the violence, recording 130 attacks and 332 deaths, while Anambra State followed with 94 attacks and 202 deaths, together accounting for 534 deaths, nearly 70% of the total fatalities from the enforcement of the IPOB’s sit-at-home order.
The report alleged that the majority of these fatalities stemmed from IPOB’s aggressive enforcement tactics, which include retaliatory killings, arson, looting, and targeted assassinations.
Part of the report read, “Southeast Nigeria faces a deepening security crisis with a sharp five-year rise in violence: 332 attacks and 776 deaths (2021-2025).
“Between 2021 and 2025, over 700 lives were lost in IPOB-related attacks. These attacks include retaliatory killings of civilians who defied the orders.
“IPOB’s enforcement tactics, including arson, looting, and targeted assassinations, have created a climate of fear.
“Imo is the epicentre (130 incidents, 332 deaths), followed by Anambra (94 incidents, 202 deaths). Violence surged in 2024 (133 incidents, 313 deaths), a threefold increase from 2023.”
The sit-at-home orders, initially intended to demand the release of Nnamdi Kanu and as symbolic acts of civil disobedience in support of Biafra’s independence, have morphed into deadly flashpoints of conflict and coercion.
Among the most harrowing events was the May 2022 massacre in Anambra, where 14 civilians were killed for allegedly violating the order.
Other significant attacks include an April 2023 clash in Imo between the suspected IPOB’s armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), and federal forces; a May 2024 ambush in Aba that claimed the lives of five soldiers and six civilians; and a March 2025 assault on the Enugu police headquarters.
“Notable incidents include the May 2022 massacre of 14 civilians in Anambra, the April 2023 clash in Imo State between IPOB’s Eastern Security Network (ESN) and security forces, and a May 2024 ambush in Aba that killed five soldiers and six civilians, followed by a March 2025 police headquarters attack in Enugu,” the report said.
While compliance with the sit-at-home directive was high in 2021, peaking at 82.6%, the report indicated that actual support for the movement remains low, at 29%, with most residents participating out of fear of reprisal rather than ideological alignment.
“While 82.6% of respondents in the 2021 survey acknowledged complying with the sit-at-home order, only 29% fully supported it,” the report stated.
“Many admitted their adherence was driven by fear of violence, a concern validated by IPOB’s enforcement tactics, including arson and killings.”
The year 2024 marked the deadliest period, with 133 incidents and 313 deaths, nearly tripling the violence levels recorded in 2023.
The rise in fatalities coincides with increased militarisation and intensified crackdowns by security forces, tactics which, critics argue, have further alienated local populations and fueled sympathy for the separatist cause.
The report attributed Imo’s heightened exposure to several factors, including its central role in the Biafra agitation, a history of political instability, and ongoing military operations such as Operation Python Dance, which have deepened distrust between communities and the federal government.
Anambra, while slightly less impacted, remains highly vulnerable due to its economic importance, urban density, and historical support for pro-Biafra movements.
Both states suffer from porous borders and inadequate security coordination, making them soft targets for militant infiltration and attacks.
The SBM Intelligence report states, “No state is spared, but Imo and Anambra are the worst hit, linked to IPOB/ESN activity and state responses.
“This sustained emergency demands urgent, coordinated action to prevent further escalation and immense human cost.
“From the state-by-state incidents and fatalities, it is evident that Imo State has experienced the highest level of violence, with 130 incidents and 332 fatalities reported between 2021 and 2025.
“This is followed by Anambra State, which recorded 94 incidents and 202 fatalities. The relatively high level of incidents and fatalities in Imo suggests that the state has been a major hotspot for violence, likely driven by the conflicts.
“Imo State has emerged as the epicentre of IPOB and ESN-related violence in the Southeast over the last four years, with 130 incidents and 332 fatalities between 2021 and 2025.
“This is largely due to the state’s central role in the Biafra agitation, its strategic location, and the rise of secessionist sentiments.
“Imo’s history of political crises and heavy military crackdowns, such as Operation Python Dance, has only fueled the conflict, with security forces’ aggressive tactics driving local communities to sympathise with separatist groups.”
The report noted that the cycle of violence, with attacks on military and civilian targets, makes Imo a major hotspot for IPOB-related activities.
“Anambra, though slightly less affected, shares similar dynamics.
“With 94 incidents and 202 fatalities, Anambra also has a high concentration of pro-Biafra sentiment, driven by political rivalries and its economic significance as a commercial hub,” it stated.
According to the report, Anambra State’s urbanisation provides fertile ground for violence and recruitment by IPOB.
“Additionally, both states’ proximity to rural areas and porous boundaries make them vulnerable to infiltration by militants, while the fragmented security apparatus further exacerbates vulnerabilities.
“The violence in both Imo and Anambra reflects a deep-rooted sense of economic disenfranchisement and political marginalisation, with IPOB’s activities being perceived as a reaction to federal oppression,” the report.
Attempts by SaharaReporters to get a reaction from IPOB were unsuccessful.
