A new report by intelligence group SBM has revealed that more than 700 people have been killed in southeastern Nigeria since August 2021 due to violent enforcement of sit-at-home orders by separatist elements. The orders, originally initiated by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a banned organization in Nigeria, were meant to demand the release of their detained leader Nnamdi Kanu. However, the protests have increasingly turned deadly.
Despite IPOB’s official suspension of the sit-at-home directives, rogue elements and affiliated armed factions have continued to enforce them using brutal tactics. These include targeted assassinations, arson, looting, and attacks on civilians and public infrastructure. The persistent violence has triggered widespread fear across the region, forcing residents and businesses into compliance.
The economic cost of the unrest has been staggering. According to SBM, the sit-at-home actions have caused an estimated loss of over 7.6 trillion naira, equivalent to approximately \$4.79 billion. Economic activities in key southeastern cities like Enugu, Onitsha, and Aba have been severely disrupted, with businesses shutting down on Mondays and other declared protest days.
One of the deadliest recent incidents occurred on May 8, 2025, when gunmen suspected to be affiliated with IPOB attacked travelers along the Okigwe-Owerri highway in Imo State. The attackers reportedly killed at least 30 people and torched more than 20 vehicles. Amnesty International confirmed the attack and urged the Nigerian authorities to take urgent measures to protect civilians. The Nigerian police have launched an investigation but have not yet made any arrests.
The violence has also had a profound impact on education in the region. An estimated 664,000 children have been forced out of school due to the ongoing insecurity. Families in affected areas are increasingly relocating to other parts of the country in search of safety and access to uninterrupted education for their children.
In a related international development, Finnish police arrested five individuals in November 2024 in connection with the funding and orchestration of separatist activities in Nigeria.
Among those investigated is Simon Ekpa, a dual Finnish-Nigerian citizen who has been identified as a key figure in promoting the sit-at-home orders through online platforms. Finnish authorities are working closely with Nigerian counterparts as investigations continue.
As the region grapples with increasing instability, observers warn that a comprehensive political solution and greater international cooperation will be necessary to prevent further bloodshed and restore peace to southeastern Nigeria.