A man has lamented the devastating impact of the 2018 proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the subsequent crackdown on suspected members by security agencies. The move, he said, has left many families in southeastern Nigeria grappling with hardship.
Recounting his family’s ordeal, he revealed how the proscription forced his brother into exile.
Speaking to reporters, the man described how the designation of IPOB as a terrorist organization has disrupted their lives, leaving his family fractured and struggling with the aftermath.
Reports indicate that many young men in the southeast faced arrests, detentions, or prosecutions, while others fled the country to evade alleged persecution.
One such case is that of Mr. Chukwu Ukpah, a trader from Umuka, Okposi, in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
According to his cousin, Mr. Bernard Adiya, Ukpah fled Nigeria in 2019 after being accused of being an IPOB member.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP via phone, Adiya described the accusations against Ukpah as baseless, explaining that his brother feared arrest and possible mistreatment, leaving him no choice but to abandon his family and business.
“He fled Nigeria because he was wrongly accused of being a member of IPOB and became a target for arrest. He was deeply concerned about the possibility of prolonged detention or worse, given how security agencies were handling suspected members at the time,” Adiya said.
Ukpah’s absence has taken an emotional and financial toll on his family, particularly his wife and children, who remain in Lagos.
Adiya expressed deep concern over the challenges his brother has faced in exile and the strain it has placed on their family.
The story of Mr. Ukpah reflects the broader implications of the IPOB proscription, which has disrupted countless lives in the region. The ripple effects continue to raise questions about the handling of such cases and their impact on social cohesion within affected communities.
While Ukpah’s family remains hopeful for a resolution, they have called for fairness and justice in addressing similar cases, emphasizing the need to differentiate between legitimate activism and unfounded accusations.
