“Return Home for Christmas, South-East Is Secure” — IPOB Urges Ndigbo

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called on Ndigbo in Nigeria and the Diaspora to return to the South-East for Christmas celebrations, assuring them of security throughout the region. IPOB described the South-East as Nigeria’s “most tranquil” area, noting that security has improved despite what it termed “sponsored instability” over the past four years.

In a statement on Sunday, IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful urged residents and returnees to ignore what he called propaganda against IPOB and the Eastern Security Network (ESN), emphasizing that both groups, with local support, have played crucial roles in maintaining safety in the region. Powerful said the relative peace in the South-East reflects the inherently peaceful nature of Ndigbo and encouraged the returnees to bring investments home.

The statement highlighted that IPOB, under the guidance of leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is committed to ensuring security during the festive season, with ESN operatives and volunteers monitoring the region. IPOB also dismissed social media reports about a supposed kidnapping along the Owerri–Aba Expressway, calling the footage “old” and “false,” and reiterated that ESN operations are conducted discreetly without official online accounts.

Powerful further accused the Federal Government and some Igbo politicians of attempting unsuccessfully to undermine IPOB and ESN, describing the Biafra restoration movement as “a sacred initiative.” The group urged Ndigbo to return home in large numbers for Christmas and invest in the region, cautioning against letting fear or insecurity narratives deter their visit.