**Imo State, October 14, 2023** — The Department of State Services (DSS) has attributed the rising insecurity in the Southeast to criminal activities veiled under the guise of Biafra agitation. Speaking at a one-day stakeholders roundtable organized by the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) on the upcoming November 11 governorship election in Imo State, the Imo State Director of DSS, Wilcox Idaminabo, asserted that the ongoing destruction and killings were manifestations of criminality, not genuine Biafra agitations.
During the roundtable discussion, Idaminabo called upon traditional rulers, clergymen, and Igbo leaders to vehemently condemn the evils of insecurity in the Southeast. He emphasized that Biafra’s ideology was not centered on violence or destruction, noting that some traditional rulers and religious leaders were unable to remain in their communities due to the prevailing insecurity.
Idaminabo shared his firsthand experience, stating, “When I led operations to Orsu, what we saw was gory — headless bodies, abandoned vehicles. It was terrible.” He questioned the motives behind threats of disrupting elections in the zone, suggesting a potential link to political party sponsorship, adding a layer of complexity to the security challenges.
The DSS director highlighted the absence of a unified Biafra, asserting that the criminal elements exploiting the situation were tarnishing the image of the legitimate Biafra cause. Over recent years, the Southeast has witnessed heightened insecurity, often linked to the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and the broader Biafra agitation.
The security challenges have resulted in the tragic killing and kidnapping of numerous individuals in the region, prompting concerns and calls for concerted efforts to address the root causes of the crisis.
