BIAFRA SEPARATIST AGITATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH EAST NIGERIA, 2017-2022

Abstract: The study examined Biafra separatist agitation and economic development in South East, Nigeria between 2017 and 2022. The study undertook a critical review of literature on the violent activities perpetrated by IPOB and poverty rate in South East Nigeria using incessant punctuation of business activities in the region. The objectives of the study were to determine if violent activities perpetrated by IPOB worsened the growth of business in South Eastern Nigeria and to ascertain whether incessant declaration of sit-at-home by Biafra separatist agitators adversely impacted on the ease of doing business in South East Nigeria. Data were collected using a mixed method which included survey and documentary methods and analyzed using content analysis. The study also relied on the basic propositions emanating from the violence theory propounded by Adam Smith in 1975. Findings show that the violent activities of IPOB such as the incessant and brutal killing of innocent citizens of the South East and giving of the obnoxious sit-at-home order have negatively affected businesses in the South East. This has caused people to fear for their lives leading to the closure of businesses, people relocating to other peaceful states to reside and purchase their goods and a reduction in investors investing in the South East. These have led to a reduction in the GDP and FDI in the region. The study therefore concluded that resultant effect of the activities in the region as a result of the Biafran secessionist agitators has made the federal government deploy military men to suppress the agitation thereby making the military and the police engage in extrajudicial killings of able-bodied men. The resultant effect is that a reasonable number of the able-bodied men who were supposed to be the energetic backbone of the region and take up jobs and other responsibilities have been tactically eliminated. This has made the region to lose future manpower in carrying out the crucial task which has also adversely affected the economic development of the region. Among others, the study recommends that the government should take more proactive measure to instill order in the South East region to avoid unlawful restrictions inimical to economic activities. Keywords: Biafra Separatist Agitators, Businesses, Economic Development, IPOB, South East. Title: BIAFRA SEPARATIST AGITATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH EAST NIGERIA, 2017-2022 Author: Chisomaga Happiness Ihekoromadu, Ifeanyi Jonah Onuoha, Okpala Joy Chinaza International Journal of Recent Research in Social Sciences and Humanities (IJRRSSH) ISSN 2349-7831 Vol. 12, Issue 3, July 2025 - September 2025 Page No: 10-23 Paper Publications Website: www.paperpublications.org Published Date: 04-July-2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15806796 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.paperpublications.org/upload/book/BIAFRA%20SEPARATIST%20AGITATION-04072025-5.pdf