INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF BIAFRA’S SECESSION AGITATION, ECONOMIC BOYCOTTS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHEAST, NIGERIA

Abstract

The paper explores the secession activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Southeast Nigeria, with the aim to determine the effects of sit-at-home economic boycotts as declared by IPOB and the implications on sustainable development goals. The paper adopts Frustration Aggression Theory. It utilised documentary review and statistical data analysis related to indigenous people of Biafra’s secession agitation, economic boycotts and implications for sustainable development. The paper found that secession agitation by IPOB aims at drawing the attention of the federal government of Nigeria to the desire of IPOB to gain self-determination owing to marginalization and discrimination. The secessionists’ actions for self-determination became violent, and destroyed public and private infrastructure, which led to the arrest and detention of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu. The paper concludes that the use of violence and economic boycotts as instruments for self-determination and actualization has significantly affected the economic growth of southeast Nigeria. It thus, recommends that the federal government of Nigeria and its judiciary should also expedite the trial process of the detained leader of IPOB, Nnadi Kanu, as his detention and  violent protest by his foot soldiers has negative implications on the economy, safety and progress of South-East Nigeria.