December 14, 2025 — Dalena Reporters
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist organisation proscribed by the Nigerian government, has publicly marked the fifth anniversary of its Eastern Security Network (ESN), hailing the armed outfit for what it describes as “defending Biafraland and securing Southeast forests” amid persistent insecurity in the region.
In a statement issued by IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful and obtained by DalenaReporters on Sunday, the group lauded ESN operatives as volunteers who abandoned personal careers and comforts to protect their communities, asserting that their presence has significantly reduced attacks on rural communities and farmlands across the South-East.
According to IPOB, ESN — established on December 12, 2020 by IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu — was formed as a community-based vigilante force aimed at filling what the group calls a “grave security vacuum” affecting Biafran territories, particularly in the face of threats from armed groups operating in forests and remote areas.
IPOB’s statement claims that before ESN’s creation, many communities were subject to frequent attacks, destruction of farmlands, displacement of villagers and killings, conditions the group says have eased as a direct result of ESN’s activities. It described ESN members as citizens who selflessly stepped forward to protect their people.
The separatist organisation acknowledged that ESN operatives have endured sustained military operations, media attacks and internal sabotage, but insisted the network has remained “resolute” in pursuing its objectives despite alleged challenges. IPOB further asserted that some members have been killed or abducted and that their families have been targeted, alluding to risks faced by the armed wing in its operations.
IPOB reiterated that ESN’s mission to prevent what it terms “occupation of Biafra land” remains unchanged, calling on residents in the South-East to support the group through vigilance, intelligence sharing and cooperation. The organisation also urged the United States Government and the international community to address what it described as jihadist and extremist networks operating in Nigeria, including militant groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP and Ansaru — reflecting a broader narrative that frames ESN in defensive terms.
“The Eastern Security Network was established… to confront the grave security vacuum that had left Biafraland exposed to marauding armed groups… who for years operated with impunity,” IPOB’s statement said, asserting that, while threats persist, attacks have reduced significantly and farmers are now able to return to their lands with “renewed confidence.”
IPOB’s framing of ESN as a community security mechanism reflects a continuing struggle for legitimacy in the face of Nigerian military opposition. Federal authorities have labeled IPOB and ESN as terrorist organisations, and security operations against their members have been ongoing, including arrests of suspected operatives and dismantling of alleged logistics networks linked to the group.
The controversy over ESN’s role continues to deepen national debate over security in the South-East. Proponents in IPOB portray ESN as a protective force against kidnappings and armed incursions that they allege government security forces have failed to stem, while critics including federal forces and independent analysts argue that the group’s armed activities exacerbate instability and invite confrontation.
As ESN marks its anniversary under IPOB’s endorsement, the broader context of insecurity in Nigeria’s South-East remains complex, with competing narratives over legitimacy, community protection, and the appropriate role if any of non-state armed groups in addressing local security challenges.