The Assistant Inspector General of Police for Zone 9 Umuahia, Kanayo Uzuegbu, has declared that the influence of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is waning across Nigeria’s southeastern states. During an official visit to Ebonyi State Police Command, Uzuegbu assured residents they could conduct their daily activities without fear of disruption from the separatist group.
Uzuegbu credited the improved security situation to coordinated police operations that have dismantled several IPOB enclaves. “When we identify them, we deal with them ruthlessly,” he stated, emphasizing that remaining IPOB threats exist more in public imagination than reality. The police chief urged officers to maintain professionalism and avoid misconduct that could damage the force’s reputation.
Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police Adaku Uche Anya reinforced these assurances, detailing the command’s crime-fighting achievements. She pledged continued efforts to ensure public safety, allowing citizens to “sleep with both eyes closed.” The security update comes amid ongoing efforts to stabilize the southeast region following years of separatist tensions and violent clashes.
Authorities maintain that sustained security operations have significantly degraded IPOB’s operational capacity, though some analysts caution that underlying grievances fueling separatist sentiments remain unaddressed. The police leadership’s statements aim to boost public confidence in the region’s security apparatus while warning against any resurgence of unlawful activities.
