In a recent video interview with Arise News, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu provided a startling overview of the violent campaign waged by the Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network between October 2020 and June 2021.
His revelations shed light on the extent of the group’s alleged involvement in widespread destruction and deadly attacks targeting state institutions.
“Your Excellency, between October 2020 and June 2021, IPOB, ESN murderous attacks destroyed 164 police stations, killed 128 policemen, injured 144, destroyed 628 vehicles, carried out three prison breaks including the Owerri facility where 1,841 inmates escaped and attacked the immigration service headquarters in Umuahia,” Ribadu stated during the broadcast.
The period in question coincided with a wave of separatist-driven unrest in Nigeria’s South-East region. Ribadu’s account underscores the devastating toll these operations inflicted on Nigeria’s law enforcement and justice system. The prison break at the Owerri Correctional Facility in April 2021 was one of the most high-profile incidents, leading to a nationwide manhunt for nearly 2,000 escaped inmates.
The attacks also targeted the Nigerian Immigration Service headquarters in Umuahia, further demonstrating the group’s focus on undermining federal authority.
IPOB, which seeks the secession of Biafra from Nigeria has repeatedly denied involvement in violent activities, often accusing government forces of staging or exaggerating incidents. However, authorities have consistently linked the group to a pattern of escalating violence in the region.
Ribadu’s remarks come as the federal government ramps up efforts to restore stability and reassert control over affected areas. The interview has reignited debates on national security, separatism, and the protection of critical state infrastructure in Nigeria.
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