THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF BIAFRA: A HISTORICO-HERMENEUTIC STUDY

Abstract

This paper traced the historical evolution of IPOB activities in southeastern Nigeria. IPOB which has caused and still causing a lot of havoc in the Southeastern Nigeria became a threat to both the government and the people of the region. The paper set out to know how this militant group came into existence, who is the founder, what their modus operandi is and what is their source of income. The paper discovered that IPOB is the continuation of the struggle for the self-determination, preservation and development of the Igbo people. As a pro-Biafran group, IPOB formation can be traced down to the Nigerian civil war, a war fought for Biafran independence in Nigeria (1967-1969). The study identified Igbo nationalism, anti-Fulani sentiment and non-violence resistance as IPOB ideology. It started as non-violent group then proceeded to being violence as its founder/leader; Mazi Nnamdi Okwu Kanu has been quoted to issue death threats and hate speech, which are against the principles of non-violence. The reason for these rising protests is attributed to the claimed political disenfranchisement among the Igbo people and much trauma that had continued as an effect of the Nigerian civil war. They have engaged the Nigerian military and even civilians in violent conflict resulting in the loss of lives and properties. For the purpose of this study, a historico-hermeneutic approach was employed.