IPOB AGITATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABLE PEACE IN SOUTH- EAST NIGERIA

This paper examines the link between the agitation of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and economic development in Southeast Nigeria, with attention to pathways for sustainable peace. IPOB’s activities have transformed the region into a hotspot for violence and criminality, causing significant losses to lives, property and businesses. While existing studies explore the causes of agitation, security impacts, and socio-economic effects, few have addressed how the unrest affects economic engagements from other regions to the Southeast. This study fills that gap using a qualitative design, drawing mainly on secondary data supplemented by key informant interviews. Data were analyzed through thematic content analysis. Findings reveal the economic ramifications of IPOB agitation and provide practical recommendations to restore peace and promote stability in the Southeast.