By patient Njoku
In a disturbing trend that has become a grim reality, the Nigerian government’s crackdown on members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has intensified, with the latest development seeing yet another group leader declared wanted. The Nigerian Police have issued a shoot-on-sight order against Mr. Arinze Emmanuel Eze, the deputy coordinator of IPOB in Enugu State, after he narrowly escaped arrest during a clampdown while hoisting Biafran flags to commemorate the fallen heroes of the Biafran Armed Forces.
The hoisting of flags, a symbolic act of remembrance and advocacy for a sovereign Biafran state, has long been part of IPOB’s civil campaigns. The group, which maintains a non-violent stance, uses peaceful processions and awareness campaigns to push for a referendum. However, these activities have been met with forceful opposition from the Nigerian government, which proscribed IPOB and deemed its actions treasonous.
The escalation in state response has led to widespread arrests, arbitrary detentions, and numerous deaths of IPOB members. Now, with Mr. Arinze Eze declared wanted, the risks to his life and that of his family have escalated. Reports suggest that law enforcement often targets the families of wanted individuals when the primary targets evade capture, putting loved ones in grave danger.
Human rights organizations have repeatedly raised alarms over the police’s use of excessive force, particularly the growing trend of “shoot on sight” orders against IPOB members. The clampdown has sparked concerns about the arbitrary methods employed by security forces, with many IPOB supporters languishing in prisons under harsh conditions and others feared dead in unclear circumstances.
Despite IPOB’s peaceful advocacy for self-determination and their calls for a referendum, the Nigerian government continues to label their actions as criminal, fueling the ongoing cycle of violence and repression. As international human rights bodies monitor the situation, the plight of IPOB members like Mr. Arinze Emmanuel Eze remains a glaring example of the dangers faced by those who challenge the status quo in Nigeria.
This latest incident has renewed calls for dialogue and a more measured approach from the Nigerian government in handling separatist movements, as the heavy-handed tactics continue to raise ethical and legal concerns.
