State repression and escalation in Biafra social movements in Nigeria: Any way out?

Abstract

This study examined the effects of State repression on the escalation in Biafra social movements in Nigeria. Integrated Separatist Agitation Theory (ISAT) was applied in the analysis. A cross-sectional design, purposive and snowballing sampling techniques were employed in recruiting 30 members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who participated in the open-ended in-depth oral interviews. The results showed that the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has been consistently repressive in its attempts to control this social phenomenon. The incessant military attacks and police brutality on unarmed and nonviolent Biafra protesters are undemocratic and have no deterrent effect. This therefore leads to the conclusion that the use of democratic conflict resolution approaches would assist immensely in curbing the conflict. The accent is on the government to quickly engage these separatist groups, their supporters, and significant others (the clergy, opinion leaders, traditional rulers, political representatives, and so on) from this region in dialogue, negotiations and restorative justice interventions. Adopting non-repressive strategies is a robust and practical way towards (re)solving the problem. Creating democratic frameworks for the contending social actors (Igbo nation and FGN) to mend fences for enduring national peace, unity and progress might be one of the viable solutions to the menace.