[JUST IN]: IPOB Condemns Soludo’s Security Deployment in Onitsha, Warns of Escalating Insecurity

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The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has strongly condemned the deployment of security forces in Onitsha, Anambra State, describing the action as reckless and dangerous, with the potential to inflame tensions and destabilise the area.

In a press statement issued on January 27, 2026, by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB said the actions were carried out under the authority of Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, and resulted in security operatives confronting traders and protesters.

According to the group, the operation violated fundamental human rights and democratic principles, as civilians were reportedly confronted while exercising their right to peaceful protest. IPOB stated that the use of armed security formations against unarmed civilians only deepens fear and mistrust and fuels cycles of violence in the South-East.

The group warned that such security measures, rather than restoring calm, risk aggravating insecurity and undermining peace efforts in the region. IPOB also called on human rights organisations, civil society groups, and the international community to closely monitor developments and caution Nigerian security agencies against the use of live ammunition in civilian environments.

Reaffirming its position, IPOB said it remains committed to non-violence and dialogue, insisting that its struggle is rooted in peaceful advocacy and the pursuit of a negotiated political solution. The group reiterated its call for a democratic referendum on self-determination and renewed demands for the release of its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

IPOB further urged protesters and supporters to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding, stressing that violence contradicts its stated objectives.

The statement concluded with a warning that continued militarisation of civilian protests could worsen instability and draw international scrutiny, noting that “history will judge those who choose force over dialogue.”

As at the time of filing this report, the Anambra State Government had not issued an official response to the statement.