The Global Terrorism Index report released on Tuesday placed the nationalist separatist group in Nigeria, Indigenous People of Biafra in the 10th position among world’s terrorist organisations.
The report reveals that IPOB was responsible for 57 deaths, 40 attacks and 16 injuries in Nigeria in 2022 alone.
The GTI attributed the killings and attacks on police and other security agencies in Nigeria in 2022 to IPOB.
The report read in part, “The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), designated as a terrorist group by the Nigerian government in 2017, recorded their deadliest year in 2022. They were responsible for 40 attacks and 57 deaths in 2022, an increase from 26 attacks and 34 deaths the year prior.”
Founded by Nnamdi Kanu, who is currently in detention over allegations bordering on terrorism, the separatist group leads the agitation for the secession of the Igbo-speaking southeast region.
The GTI’s recognition of IPOB as a deadly terrorist group came 10 months after the government of the United Kingdom recognised the Nigerian government’s classification of the group as a terrorist organisation.
In the May 2022 update of its asylum policy, the UK government excluded members of the group from seeking refuge in England.
While IPOB ranked 10th on the list of the deadliest terrorist groups in the world, Boko Haram ranked seventh.
🆕Global Terrorism Index 2023: Terrorist attacks more deadly, despite decline in the West.
Download the full report. https://t.co/P69P9ZXLm9 pic.twitter.com/ZVPMGPJuqj
— IEP Global Peace Index (@GlobPeaceIndex) March 14, 2023
