Invitation to Engage

Over the weekend, there were no reported violent clashes between Nigerian security forces and an unwavering pro-secessionist group in southeast Nigeria. In the last few months, pro-separatist agitations championed by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have intensified in the southeast. Before November, multiple violent incidents had occurred in Anambra state; the governorship election was just concluded. Security agencies blamed IPOB for the attacks. But IPOB continually denied responsibility and even declared a sit-at-home order during the electioneering period in the state. Two days to the elections, IPOB cancelled its sit-at-home order in reverence to consultative meetings with southeast regional stakeholders.

IPOB’s cancellation of its sit-at-home order did not come as a surprise. Weeks before the cancellation, Emerging Violence Theatre had described IPOB’s position on Nigerian elections as “unreliable”, citing irregularities with their orders. However, it was easy to link the relatively peaceful polls to IPOB’s cancellation of the stay-at-home directive and the high-security presence in the area. Earlier predictions speculated severe clashes between government forces, with directives to ensure the election is uninterrupted, and IPOB seeking to enforce its orders. But IPOB’s engagement with regional stakeholders had made the difference.

The key takeaway from the Anambra state governorship election is that IPOB is open to dialogue with the government. If IPOB can abandon an opportunity to showcase its relevance in the southeast and its adversary to the Nigerian state, it suggests that there is room to engage the separatist group. Over the years, the pro-Biafran secessionist campaign has had a recurrent goal, to create a Biafran state. Also, government’s insistence on Nigeria’s indissolubility and repressive measures to curb self-determination leave no room to engage pro-secessionist agitators.

Collaborative approaches to stabilise the southeast region is the best outcome for all. With limited resources and a struggling economy, Nigeria must respond to the cascading trend of violent conflict. Security agencies are stretched in their responses to crime. Multiple informal security providers have been created to complement ineffectual security agencies and fill security gaps. The Nigerian state must respond to these issues to maintain its authority and control. Most residents in the area also believe that non-kinetic is needed in resolving the conflict and the recurrent sit-at-home orders and its discontents.

“Dialogue with IPOB members but bring in regional stakeholders”, says Obianuju, a development worker in Anambra state. However, Eze, a businessman in Awka, suggests that government should first release IPOB’s leader who is in its custody, as any form of engagement may not hold water”. Some of other respondents also hold that an open, fair and quick trial of IPOB\’s leader is necessary to curb the tensions in the region. Recall that, although IPOB had announced its discontinuity of the sit-at-home orders, streets in the southeast are still deserted on Mondays. Therefore, exploring the engagement window is a proactive approach to avoid growing violence and revenue loss to the nation.

Engaging IPOB will set the tempo for proactive peacebuilding in Nigeria’s violent hotspots. Beyond IPOB, other security issues and agitations are seeking government attention. Such as the Yoruba nation movement, periodic militancy by residents in the oil-rich Niger Delta, and the lingering #End SARS movement against police brutality. Government’s willingness to engage in dialogue with the separatist group will exemplify its openness to citizens’ engagement. However, to achieve a sustainable and replicative engagement process that can be applied across other similar issues. Nextier SPD’s article proposes deploying a conflict expert group to mediate communicative engagement to promote interfacing with government and the secessionist group.