Defence Headquarters Identifies IPOB, Yoruba Nation Agitators as Major Threats in 2023

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has highlighted key security challenges faced by different regions of Nigeria in 2023. According to Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, these threats varied across the country and were influenced by factors such as secessionist agitations, criminal activities, and the proliferation of small arms.

In the Southeast (SE) and Southwest (SW) regions, the DHQ identified the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Yoruba Nation agitators, respectively, as major threats due to their secessionist movements. Meanwhile, the South-South (SS) region grappled with issues like oil theft, cultism, and youth restiveness.

Despite these regional variations, certain criminal activities were prevalent across Nigeria. These included kidnapping, armed robbery, communal clashes, and cattle rustling, which cut across all six geopolitical zones.

One of the underlying factors contributing to these security challenges, according to the DHQ, was the proliferation of small arms, exacerbated by the influx of illegal arms and ammunition through porous borders. Additionally, the presence of local arms fabrication factories within the country further contributed to the proliferation of weapons.

Source: Daily Post