STATE RESPONSE TO IPOB SEPARATIST PROTESTS IN SOUTH EAST, NIGERIA: THE PLACE OF HUMAN RIGHTS, DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT

The study explored Nigerian state approach in addressing the IPOB separatist protests and how the government has been implicated as being repressive through the military, and the implications on human rights, democracy and development. The article combined secondary and primary data to gather evidence of repressive acts by the government. The study used a combination of quantitative and qualitative data sources, comprising 16 in-depth interviews and 996 copies of correctly filled and completed structured questionnaire, which were complemented with earlier sourced secondary data. From the data analyses, it is found among others that the Nigerian state adopts repressive acts such as arrest and intimidation of protesters, shooting of live ammunition, declaration of dusk to dawn curfew and unnecessary show of force. The study equally found that the state actions have increased public distrust of government and law enforcement agents and shrunk the civic space which has impacted on human rights. Again the action of the state undermines democratic consolidation and erodes good governance, and also undermines constitutionalism, the rule of law and due process leading to low democratic rating of Nigeria. Lastly it was found that the state response impinged on economic opportunities leading to debilitating livelihood. The study recommends among others the adoption of discursive approach instead of brutal force. Democracies survive through checks and balances; the legislature must checkmate the excessive activities as it relates to the deployment of military.