The Nigerian military has described the Court of Appeal’s recent ruling affirming the proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organization as a major morale booster.
The court’s decision upholds the 2017 designation of IPOB as a terrorist group by the Federal High Court in Abuja. This ruling comes after a previous State High Court decision in Enugu had nullified the proscription in 2023.
Major-General Edward Buba, the outgoing Director of Defence Media Operations, welcomed the judgment, stating that it would further motivate troops to accelerate efforts in dismantling IPOB and its Eastern Security Network (ESN) affiliates.
IPOB has been leading a separatist movement advocating for the creation of an independent state of Biafra from Nigeria’s South-East and parts of the South-South region. Its proscription has been a subject of legal battles over the years.
The military reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating what it described as threats posed by the group, emphasizing that the ruling strengthens their mandate to take decisive action against IPOB’s activities.
