A new report by SB Morgen Intelligence has revealed that Anambra State is the second worst hit as sit-at-home order and violence led to many avoidable deaths in the region .
According to the report, a staggering toll of violence in Nigeria’s South-East region, with 776 deaths from 332 recorded attacks linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its enforcement of the controversial sit-at-home order between 2021 and 2025.
The report underscored an alarming security crisis that has steadily worsened over the past four years, with Imo and Anambra states bearing the brunt of the devastation.
The report stated that Imo State emerged as the epicentre of the violence, recording 130 attacks and 332 deaths, while Anambra State followed with 94 attacks and 202 deaths, together accounting for 534 deaths, nearly 70% of the total fatalities from the enforcement of the IPOB’s sit-at-home order.
The report alleged that the majority of these fatalities stemmed from IPOB’s aggressive enforcement tactics, which include retaliatory killings, arson, looting, and targeted assassinations.
Among the most harrowing events was the May 2022 massacre in Anambra, where 14 civilians were killed for allegedly violating the order.
The year 2024 marked the deadliest period, with 133 incidents and 313 deaths, nearly tripling the violence levels recorded in 2023.
Anambra’s vulnerability is due to its economic importance, urban density, and historical support for pro-Biafra movements.
The SBM Intelligence report states, “No state is spared, but Imo and Anambra are the worst hit, linked to IPOB/ESN activity and state responses.
According to the report, Anambra State’s urbanisation provides fertile ground for violence and recruitment by IPOB.
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