Nigeria's tense political landscape, accusations and counter-accusations between the State and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ha...
Nigeria's tense political landscape, accusations and counter-accusations between the State and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have become a familiar cycle. The latest flashpoint emerged this week after IPOB issued a strong statement rejecting claims by security agencies and Nigeria's unprofessional Media outfits that linked her to cases of Kidnapping and general Insecurity in the Southeast.
The press statement, released on September 16, with a strict warning, the IPOB dismissed the allegations as "satanic propaganda" and accused the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, and the Police of routinely scapegoating the movement to cover their own failures. The group insists it is a peaceful body dedicated to self-determination, whose only "crime" is its call for Biafra's independence through a UN-supervised referendum.
This tug-of-war is not new. For years, Nigerian authorities and their quack media houses have associated IPOB with violent activities, especially through its Eastern Security Network (ESN). IPOB, on the other hand, have repeatedly denied every one of these criminal accusations.
The rhetoric often drips with charged imaginaries and illusions.
In the latest statement, IPOB mocked the Security Agencies and Media when they requested the government to "blame IPOB for road floods, road accidents, or one's inability to impregnate his wives."
Beyond these counter-accusations lies a deeper issue: "A Crisis of Trust Among Nigerian Citizens." Many Nigerians, weary of insecurity stemming from banditry and terrorism, find it challenging to distinguish between facts and propaganda. Some have accused security agencies and the media of failing to provide clear, verifiable evidence when linking the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to violent acts. Meanwhile, others hold divided opinions, either supporting the state media or completely exonerating IPOB.
The IPOB at the other end is left with a constant rebuttal through daily Press Statements. This leaves ordinary citizens caught between two competing narratives — one official, the other insurgens — with the truth often clouded by politics. These continued, unverified statements published by unprofessional Media outfits leave the IPOB battling to clear itself from these state actors.
The Nigerian media houses and journalists are extensions of state propaganda. They have allowed themselves to be used as tools of destruction. Recently, IPOB has threatened a lawsuit on "defamatory publications" against the government and the Nigerian press.
At its core, this clash is not just about security but about legitimacy.
The Nigerian State and Media frame IPOB as a threat to national unity, while IPOB says it is simply a victim of systemic oppression and failed governance. Between these positions, a middle ground seems elusive.
What is clear, however, is that the blame game does little to address the real crises facing Nigeria: worsening insecurity, economic hardship, and deepening ethnic mistrust. Unless Nigeria moves beyond propaganda, Nigerians may continue to witness an endless cycle of insecurity while the real problems remain unsolved because they spend all their time chasing shadows.
Written by
Mazi Necherem
For: Enugu State Media Team
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