Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

‘We shall triumph like the Jews’: unveiling the implicit side of IPOB’s armed separatism in Southeast Nigeria

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Security Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study investigated the impetus for the armed separatism of the Indigenous Peoples Of Biafra (IPOB). Drawing from a mixed method design utilizing a cross-sectional survey and qualitative study, seventy five (75) agitators were purposively sampled to assess the trajectory of revivified armed struggle for the independence of Biafra in Southeast Nigeria. Informed conversations on neo-Biafra movements are mainly constructed around state repression, socio-political exclusion and terrorism. This study focused on how ancient Israel’s providential war victories are renegotiated in IPOB’s armed struggle against the Nigerian state. The article specifically assessed how the influences from Jewish triumphant war narratives and self-rule are re-enacted in the IPOB’s armed struggle towards achieving Biafra’s independence in Southeast Nigeria. The findings indicated that the more religiously motivated participants are, the more their zest and proclivity to armed struggle for an independent state of Biafra (β = 0.25; t = 2.12; P < 0.05). Hence, the renewed armed struggle for an independent state of Biafra was largely traced to religious motivation and proclivity to violence F (2, 74) = 2.26, P < 0.05. In line with the findings, conclusions were drawn and implications were examined. The study uncovers the motivation behind the reinvigoration of the IPOB movement and their perception of Elohim’s (God) backing to have been drawn from the Jews’ past armed insurrection, war successes and eventual political freedom. This account maps into the discourse on how religious beliefs frame the struggle for political independence in postcolonial settings.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdel-Khalek, A.M. 2017. The Construction and Validation of the Arabic Scale of Intrinsic Religiosity (ASIR). Psychology and Behavioral Science International Journal 4 (1): 724–734.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adigun, O. 2018. Repression of the neo-Biafra movement–measures, responses, and consequences. Journal of Social Science Studies 5 (2): 132–158. https://doi.org/10.5296/jsss.v5i2.13180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Afsai, S. 2016. Nigeria’s Igbo Jews: Jewish identity and practice in Abuja. Anthropology Today 32 (2): 14–17. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8322.12239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Afolabi, H. 2021. Our dehumanizing treatments by DSS, show suffering of the Igbo in Nigeria-Israeli filmmakers. Retrieved from https://federalcharacter.com/our-dehumanising-treatments-by-dss-show-suffering-of-igbo-in-nigeria-israeli-filmmakers/

  • Akresh, R., S. Bhalotra, M. Leone, and U. Osili. 2023. First-and second-generation impacts of the Biafran war. Journal of Human Resources 58 (2): 488–531.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Agbo, P., K. Okoye, K. Uwaegbute, and C. Agbo. 2021. From Nigeria/Biafra war to increasing ethnic conflict : The imperative of Nehemiah’s administrative strategy? African Renaissance 18 (1): 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Agbo, P., C. Opata, and M. Okwueze. 2022. Environmental determinant of religious names: A study of Úgwú and naming among the Nsukka-Igbo people of Nigeria. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 77 (4): 1–11. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v78i3.6977.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Agbo, P., J. Ugwuanyi, and M. Okwueze. 2022b. Our gods are as powerful as the God of Abraham: Analysing the impetus-agitat on the rise of ézéńwànyì in Ǹsúkkà-Ìgbò, Southeastern Nigeria. Social Dynamics: Journal of African Studies 48 (1): 1–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anyaegbunam, M.C., D.O. Omonijo, and C.E. Ogunwa. 2021. Exploring the relationship between personality traits and superstitious beliefs. Journal of International Cooperation and Development 4 (1): 60–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Araújo, P., S. Gomes, D.G. Vidal, H.F.P. Sousa, M.A.P. Dinis, and Â. Leite. 2021. Preliminary validation study of the intrinsic religious motivation scale and the centrality of religiosity scale for the Portuguese population. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education 11 (1): 908–922. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe11030067.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allport, G.W., and J.M. Ross. 1967. Personal religious orientation and prejudice. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 5 (1): 432–443.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • AlSayyad, N., and M. Massounmi. 2012. Religious fundamentalisms in the city: Reflections on the Arab spring. Journal of International Affairs 65 (2): 31–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anuku, W. 2022. Again IPOB denies culpability in crime wave in south east. Retrieved from https://dailypost.ng/2022/06/16/again-ipob-denies-culpability-in-crime-wave-in-south-east/

  • Barceló, J. 2018. Batons and ballots: The effectiveness of state violence in fighting against Catalan separatism. Research & Politics 5 (2): 1–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Behar, D., B. Yunusbayev, M. Metspalu, et al. 2020. The genome-wide structure of the Jewish people. Nature 466: 238–242. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature09103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berman, L. 2021. Israeli filmmakers arrested in Nigeria over alleged contact with separatists. Retrieved from https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-filmmakers-arrested-in-nigeria-over-alleged-contact-with-separatists/

  • Bélanger, J.J., M. Moyano, H. Muhammad, L. Richardson, M.-A.K. Lafrenière, P. McCaffery, K. Framand, and N. Nociti. 2019. Radicalization leading to violence: A test of the 3N model. Frontiers in Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00042/full.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker, S.E., and R. Edwards. 2012. How many qualitative interviews is enough?: expert voices and early career reflections on sampling and cases in qualitative research. National Centre for Research Methods Review Paper. http://eprints.ncrm.ac.uk/2273/4/how_many_interviews.pdf.

  • Black, I., and B. Morris. 1991. Israel’s secret wars: A history of Israel’s intelligence services. New York: Grove Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Britten, N. 1995. Qualitative research: Qualitative interviews in medical research. BMJ 311 (6999): 251–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruder, E., and T. Parfitt, eds. 2012. African Zion: Studies in Black Judaism. Newcastle: Cambridge scholars publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Busari, B. 2023. Global Terrorism Index retracts IPOB as terrorist organization. Vanguard News. Retrieved from https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/03/global-terrorism-index-retracts-ipob-as-terrorist-organisation/

  • Chabal, P., U. Engel, and A. Gentili, eds. 2005. Is violence inevitable in Africa Theories of conflict and approaches to conflict prevention. Leiden: Bril.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dallin, A., and G.W. Breslauer. 1970. Political terror in communist systems. Stanford: Stanford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dobratz, B.A. 2001. The role of religion in the collective identity of the white racialist movement. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 40 (2): 287–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eskelinen, V., T. Pauha, J. Kunst, A. Räsänen, and I. Jasinskaja-Lahti. 2021. Exploring religiosity and attitudes towards Christians and non-believers among recent Muslim refugees to Finland. International Journalof Intercultural Relations 80: 206–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fonrounge, G. 2021. Israeli documentary filmmakers arrested in Nigeria: report. Retrieved from https://nypost.com/2021/07/14/israeli-filmmakers-arrested-in-nigeria-report/

  • Galtung, J. 2009. Theories of conflict. Definitions, dimensions, negations, formations. Oslo: Transcend.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghorbani, N., P.J. Watson, and Z.H. Khan. 2007. Theoretical, empirical, and potential ideological dimensions of using western conceptualizations to measure Muslim religious commitments. Journal of Muslim Mental Health 2: 113–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hafizi, S., H.G. Koenig, and D.A. Khalifa. 2015. Psychometric properties of the farsi version of Hoge intrinsic religiosity scale in Muslims: A brief report. Pastoral Psychology 64 (1): 839–845.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harnischfeger, J. 2011. Igbo Nationalism and Biafra, Afrikanistik-Aegyptologie-Online. Retrieved from https://www.afrikanistik-aegyptologie-online.de/archiv/2011/3042/Igbo%20Nationalism/view?set_language=en

  • Harnischfeger, J. (2012). Igbo nationalism and Jewish identities, In E. Bruder& T. Parfitt African zion: Studies in Black Judaism. Newcastle: Cambridge scholars publishing

  • Heerten, L., and A.D. Moses. 2014. The Nigeria-Biafra war: Postcolonial conflict and the question of genocide. Journal of Genocide Research 16 (2–3): 169–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoge, D.R. 1972. A validated intrinsic religious motivation scale. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 11 (4): 369–376. https://doi.org/10.2307/1384677.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Honari, A. 2018. From ‘the effect of repression’ toward ‘the response to repression.’ Current Sociology Review 66 (6): 950–973.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ifeyinwa, O., T. Olajide, B. Adedapo, O. Kayode, T. Adelabu, B. Oluwalanu, and C. Verlumun. 2023. The moderating effect of accountability partners in the relationship between Radio Biafra and participation in IPOB activities in South-East Nigeria. Journal of Asian and African Studies. https://doi.org/10.1177/00219096231171547.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jimmy, E.S., M.E. Ineme, M.T. Imbur, and D.O. Iloma. 2019. Predictors of farmers-herders conflicts in Benue State: Psychosocial insights. In Psychology in the public interest: Health and well-being, ed. M.O. Ezenwa, A.E. Zamani, G.G. Ejikeme, G.E. Abikoye, and M.E. Ineme, 239–248. AkwaIbom: Nigerian Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klieman, A.S. 2023. Zionist diplomacy and Israeli foreign policy. In The Middle East, ed. M. Carter, 313–319. Oxfordshire: Rutledge.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Levey, Z. 2014. Israel, Nigeria and the Biafra civil war, 1967–70. Journal of Genocide Research 16 (2–3): 263–280.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, J. 2022. What drives support for separatism? Exposure to conflict and relative ethnic size in Biafra, Nigeria. Journal for Association for the study Ethnicity and Nationalism. https://doi.org/10.1111/nana.12907.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lichbach, M.I. 1987. Deterrence or escalation? The puzzle of aggregate studies of repression and dissent. Journal of Conflict Resolution 31 (2): 266–297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lincoln, Y.S., and E.G. Guba. 1985. Naturalistic inquiry. London: Sage.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Lis, D. 2012. Israeli foreign policy towards the Igbo. In African Zion: Studies in Black Judaism, ed. E. Bruder and T. Parfitt. Newcastle: Cambridge scholars publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lis, D. 2009. Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands: Ethiopian Jewry and Igbo Identity. Jewish Culture and History 11 (3): 21–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magadla, S., B. Magoqwana, N. Mostemme, and L. Mohoto. 2021. Sex, gender and Uvalo/LetswaloCentred spirituality. In conversation with Gogo MapitsiMohoto. Journal of Contemporary African Studies 39 (4): 634–643. https://doi.org/10.1080/02589001.2021.1909711.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masters, D. 2008. The origin of terrorist threats: Religious, separatist, or something else? Terrorism and Political Violence 20 (3): 396–414.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, A. 2021. ‘The King of the Jews’ Tablets. Retrieved from https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/nnamdi-kanu-nigeria-biafra-igbo

  • Miles, W. 2023. Holocaust consciousness, Igbo Jewish indentity, and the resurgence of Biafran nationalism in Nigeria. Journal of Jewish Identities 16 (1–2): 57–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miles, W. 2011. Among the “Jubos” during the festival of lights. Transition: An international Review 105 (1): 30–45. https://doi.org/10.1353/tra.2011.0024.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miles, W.F. 2019. Who is a Jew (in Africa)? Definitional and ethical considerations in the study of sub-Saharan Jewry and Judaism. The Journal of the Middle East and Africa 10 (1): 1–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morris, B. 2008. 1948: A history of the first Arab-Israeli war. Connecticut: Yale University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Morag, N. 2020. The Head of the Mossad: In Pursuit of a Safe and Secure Israel by Shabtai Shavit (reviewed). Journal of Strategic Security 14 (1): 125–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nche, G. 2023. ‘Biafra is made in heaven’: exploring the religious framing of the neo-Biafra secessionist movement in Nigeria. Politikon: South African Journal of Political Studies 50 (1): 18–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nche, Ugwueze, and Ugwu. 2023. “As the Israelites in the Land of Egypt, So are We in Nigeria”: The Significance of the Exodus Event for Biafra Secessionist Movement. Church and State 65(1):1–24

  • Nnam, M., E. Owan, M. Eteng, G. Okechukwu, C. Obasi, and Nwosumba,. 2022. State repression and escalation in Biafra social movements in Nigeria: Any way out? Crime, Law and Social Change 77 (1): 91–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nwabueze, C., and E. Ezebuenyi. 2019. Newspaper framing of Biafra agitation under Buhari’s administration and its influence on public support for the struggle. African Journalism Studies 40 (1): 1–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nwangwu, C. 2023. Neo-Biafra separatist agitations, state repression and insecurity in South-East, Nigeria. Society 60 (1): 40–53. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12115-022-00782-0.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nwangwu, C. 2021. A breakdown of Biafra separatism, and where Kanu fits into the picture. The Conversation. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/a-breakdown-of-biafra-separatism-and-where-kanu-fits-into-the-picture-166235.

  • Nweke, K. 2002. The revival of African spiritualities: A religious basis for a sociopolitical renaissance in Africa. Theological Studies 81 (2): 303–325. https://doi.org/10.1177/0040563920933402.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Priest, C.F., and E. Uchendu. 2020. The stages of Igbo conversion to Islam: An empirical study. Review of Religious Research 62 (1): 121–132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ojo, J. 2023. Transforming Pacifists into Warmongers? Separatist Movement, State Repression, and the Politics of Framing Terrorism in Nigeria: Evidence from IPOB and Yoruba Nation’s Freedom Frontiers. Journal of Applied Security Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/19361610.2023.2189867.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Okeke, R.C. 2016. Relative Deprivation, Identity Politics and the Neo-Biafran Movement in Nigeria: Critical Issues of Nation-Building in a Postcolonial African State. International Letters of Social and Humanistic Sciences 66 (1): 73–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olafusi, E. 2018. Stronger than 18 European countries’ — Nigerian military rated 43rd best in the world, Cable, Retrieved from https://www.thecable.ng/stronger-than-18-european-countries-nigerian-military-rated-43rd-best-in-the-world

  • Oluchukwu, I. 2022. Israeli-Nigeria Bilateral Relations in a Changing World, 1999–2018. Thesis 11 (1): 35–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Omenka, N.I. 2010. Blaming the gods: Christian religious propaganda in the Nigeria-Biafra war. The Journal of African History 51 (3): 367–389.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Onuoha, G. 2013. Cultural interfaces of self-determination and the rise of the neo-Biafran movement in Nigeria. Review of African Political Economy 40 (137): 428–446.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osaretin, U.S. 2019. Biafra agitation and politics of imbalance in Nigeria. Journal of Civil & Legal Sciences 8 (2): 1–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oyewole, S. 2019. The fracturing of pro-Biafra nationalist movements. African Conflict & Peacebuilding Review 9 (1): 1–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parfitt, T., and N. Fisher, eds. 2016. Becoming Jewish: New Jew and emerging Jewish communitiesin a globalized world. Newcastle: Cambridge scholars publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reich, A. 2021. Israeli filmmakers arrested in Nigeria, The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved from https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/israeli-filmmakers-arrested-in-nigeria-over-rumored-igbo-sepratist-ties-673710

  • Ritchie, J., J. Lewis, and G. Elam. 2003. Designing and selecting samples. In Qualitative research practice: A guide for social science students and researchers, ed. J. Ritchie and J. Lewis, 77–108. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Research Methods Review Paper. 2012. Retrieved from http://eprints.ncrm.ac.uk/2273/4/how_many_interviews.pdf.

  • Sahara Reporters. 2021a. We Were Caged Like Animals By Nigeria's Department Of State Services For 20 Days—Israeli Filmmakers Recount Experiences In Video Clip. Retrieved fromhttps://saharareporters.com/2021/08/09/we-were-caged-animals-nigerias-department-state-services-20-days%E2%80%94-israeli-filmmakers

  • Sahara Reporters. 2021b. How Dream Of Biafra Land Will Soon Be Achieved– IPOB Retrieved from https://saharareporters.com/2021/05/31/how-dream-biafra-land-will-soon-be-achieved%E2%80%93-ipob

  • Sandelowski, M. 1996. One is the liveliest number: The case orientation of qualitative research. Research in Nursing & Health 19 (6): 525–529.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shlaim, A. 1987. Britain and the Arab-Israeli war of 1948. Journal of Palestine Studies 16 (4): 50–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, D.J. 2014a. Corruption complaints, inequality and ethnic grievances in post-Biafra Nigeria. Third World Quarterly 35 (5): 787–802.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, C. 2014b. Disruptive religion: The force of faith in social movement activism. Oxfordshire: Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Snay, M. 1993. Gospel of disunion: Religion and separatism in the antebellum South. Newcastle: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Uchendu, E. 2007. Recollections of childhood experiences during the Nigerian civil war. Africa 77 (3): 393–418.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uchendu, E. 2010. Being igbo and muslim: The igbo of South-Eastern Nigeria and conversions to Islam, 1930s to recent times. The Journal of African History 51 (1): 63–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ugwueze, M.I. 2019. Trauma and memory-explaining the longevity of the Biafra secessionist movement in Nigeria. Africa Insight 49 (2): 56–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ugwueze, M.I. 2021. Biafra war documentaries: Explaining continual resurgence of secessionist agitations in the South-East. Nigeria. Civil Wars 23 (2): 207–233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uwaegbute, K.I., S.N. Nweze, and O.G. Chukwuma. 2022. “ May God Bless Nnamdi Kanu Wherever He Is”: Biafran Separatist Nationalism in Nigeria and the Emerging Roles of Igbo Christian Leaders. African Studies Quarterly 21 (3): 1–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van-Slageren, J. 2014. Book review: Jews of Nigeria: An Afro-Judaic Odyssey, written by William FS Miles. Exchange 43 (1): 95–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vasileiou, K., J. Barnett, S. Thorpe, and T. Young. 2018. Characterising and justifying sample size sufficiency in interview-based studies: Systematic analysis of qualitative health research over a 15-year period. BMC Medical Research Methodology 18 (148): 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-018-0594-7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vitell, S.J., M.N. Bing, H.K. Davison, A.P. Ammeter, B.L. Garner, and M.M. Novicevic. 2009. Religiosity and moral identity: The mediating role of self-control. Journal of Business Ethics 88: 601–613.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wenham, G. 1971. The Deuteronomic theology of the book of Joshua. Journal of Biblical Literature 90 (2): 140–148. https://doi.org/10.2307/3263755.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Medical Association declaration of Helsinki. 2013. Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. Journal of American Medical Association 310: 2191–2194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhizhi, M. and F. Achiaku. 2021. Politics of divisiveness and the resurgence of Biafra agitation in Nigeria. Afribary. https://afribary.com/works/politics-of-divisiveness-and-the-resurgence-of-biafra-agitation-in-nigeria.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Religion and Cultural Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

    Paulinus Okechukwu Agbo

  2. Department of Study of Religion, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran

    Paulinus Okechukwu Agbo

Authors
  1. Paulinus Okechukwu Agbo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paulinus Okechukwu Agbo.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The author declares that there is no conflict of interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Appendix 1

Appendix 1

See Fig. 1.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Rudy Rochman, Noam Leibman and David Benaym with Sefer Torah-Source: Sahara reporters, 2021a

Full size image

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Agbo, P.O. ‘We shall triumph like the Jews’: unveiling the implicit side of IPOB’s armed separatism in Southeast Nigeria. Secur J 37, 1144–1163 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41284-023-00412-2

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41284-023-00412-2

Keywords

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy