According to the 2023 Global Terrorism Index (GTI), the separatist group known as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been ranked as the 10th deadliest terror organization globally. In 2017, the federal government proscribed IPOB and declared it a terrorist group.
The GTI report shows that IPOB was responsible for 40 attacks and 57 deaths in 2022, which was considered the group’s deadliest year.
The Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), an independent and non-profit think tank, published the GTI. The report indicates that the Islamic State, with 1,045 deaths and 410 attacks, topped the rankings, followed by Al-Shabaab with 784 deaths and 315 attacks.
The Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISK) recorded 498 deaths and 141 attacks, while Jamaat Nusrat Al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) had 279 deaths and 77 attacks, and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) had 233 deaths and 30 attacks.
The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) ranked sixth with 219 deaths and 65 attacks, while Boko Haram was responsible for 204 deaths and 64 attacks. Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) recorded 137 deaths and 90 attacks, followed by Islamic State – Sinai Province with 71 deaths and 27 attacks.
The report notes that IPOB, designated as a terrorist group by the Nigerian government in 2017, had its deadliest year in 2022, with an increase in attacks and deaths from the previous year.
IPOB is a separatist movement with various factions, many of which seek a peaceful secession from Nigeria. Despite IPOB’s ranking, Nigeria moved two places away from the sixth position it occupied in the 2022 ratings. TheCable reported this development.