The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) has withdrawn its earlier claim that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was the world’s 10th deadliest terror group. In its annual report, the Institute for Economics and Peace had placed the Nnamdi Kanu‑led IPOB at that ranking for 2022. However, a statement posted on the GTI website on Monday reclassifies IPOB as a pro‑Biafra secessionist movement rather than a terrorist organization.
The statement, titled “Statement regarding Indigenous People of the Biafra & the Global Terrorism Index,” explains that IPOB is a secessionist group based in Southeast Nigeria that seeks an independent Biafra. While the Nigerian government proscribed IPOB as a terrorist group in 2017 and the organization’s paramilitary wing, the Eastern Security Network, has been linked to several attacks, IPOB itself has not claimed responsibility for any of these incidents. The GTI emphasizes the need to distinguish the group’s peaceful activities from alleged violent actions and notes that the Global Terrorism Index 2023 has been updated to reflect this clarification.
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