BREAKING! GTI Makes U-Turn, Edits Its Report That Linked IPOB With Terrorism

   BREAKING! GTI Makes U-Turn, Edits Its Report That Linked IPOB With Terrorism

The Global Terrorism Index(GTI) have made a U-turn on their previous ranking of the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB) as the 10th deadliest terror groups in their 2022 list.

The GTI, a report published annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace(IEP) had claimed that IPOB were responsible for 40 attacks and 57 deaths in 2022. The report further claimed that the listed numbers are an increase from the 26 attacks and 34 deaths the year prior. This was a publication made for reasons we could not grasp.

The report read, “The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), designated as a terrorist group by the Nigerian government in 2017, recorded their deadliest year in 2022. They were responsible for 40 attacks and 57 deaths in 2022, an increase from 26 attacks and 34 deaths the year prior. IPOB is a separatist movement with many factions, many of which are seeking a peaceful succession from Nigeria".

It went further to misguidedly state that IPOB have many factions, which according to IPOB, is a lie. "There is only one registered IPOB worldwide, a movement that have been consistently demanding for a United Nations supervised Referendum to enable the people of the Old Eastern Nigeria(Biafra) decide their fate in the Nigeria" they said.

However, following the report, IEP received a lot of backlash from IPOB Media warriors and legal department, demanding that the IEP must provide a prove to those wrong accusations before an international court.

Following the backlash, we woke up on 27th March 2023 to a fresh and retracting publication from IEP, stating to have "updated the Global Terrorism Index 2023 to reflect this necessary clarification" on no ranking of IPOB as the 10th deadliest terrorist group in the world.

The publication reads, 

"The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is a pro-Biafra secessionist movement based in Southeast Nigeria that aims to establish an independent state of Biafra.

IPOB was proscribed as a terrorist group by the Nigerian government in 2017. In recent years, IPOB has been linked to several attacks, which have been attributed to its paramilitary wing, the Eastern Security Network (IPOB-ESN). The group has not claimed responsibility for any of these attacks.

It is important therefore to differentiate between the peaceful activities of the group and its alleged involvement in violent activity. We have today updated the Global Terrorism Index 2023 to reflect this necessary clarification.

Institute for Economics & Peace

27 March, 2023"

Below is their latest update in full;

"The Indigenous People Of Biafra is a pro-Biafra secessionist movement based in Southeast Nigeria. Its aim is to establish an independent state of Biafra. In 2017,the Nigerian government proscribed the group as a terrorist organisation.

In recent years, IPOB has been linked to several attacks, which have been attributed to its paramilitary wing, the Eastern Security Network(IPOB-ESN). In 2022 IPOB-ESN were suspected of 40 attacks and 57 deaths. This is an increase from the 26 attacks and 34 deaths in previous year. IPOB has not claimed responsibility for any of the attacks.

Despite the proscription of the group, since its emergence in 2012, IPOB has had a focus carrying out peaceful actions towards achieving its aim of sovereign state in Nigeria's Southeast. Today, many IPOB members, supporters and followers continue to work peacefully towards this goal". 

As the time of this report, Family Writers Press International have not received any feedback or response from IPOB regarding the latest report by IEP. However, many IPOB members are seen on the social media expressing some happiness over the current publication of GTI.

Family Writers Press International, Reporting.