Biafra War of Attrition: Nigeria’s Siege on Ishiagu, Ebonyi – Biafran Defense Council’s Response

Nigerian Military Besieges Ebonyi Communities, Multiple Homes Razed Down

The Nigerian military’s ongoing siege on Ishiagu town in Ivo Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, which began on July 31, 2025, and escalated dramatically on August 3, 2025, represents a chilling continuation of state-sponsored violence against the Igbo people.

Reports indicate that the military, in its aggressive pursuit of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) members, has stormed communities, fired indiscriminately, ransacked homes, and razed at least five residences, forcing villagers to flee into nearby forests with their families.

This brutal campaign, far from a precise counter-terrorism effort, is a deliberate assault on autonomous Biafran communities, underscoring the urgent need for the Biafran Defense Council’s defensive measures to protect a people under siege.

The Biafran Defense Council’s response.

Biafran Liberation Army

The recent establishment of a special unit to safeguard coastal regions is a courageous and necessary response to the Nigerian military’s unrelenting aggression. Far from escalating conflict, this unit represents a legitimate act of self-defense, aimed at protecting vulnerable communities from a military apparatus that has, for over a decade, profiled, killed, and displaced thousands of Igbo civilians under the guise of targeting IPOB.

Human rights groups like Amnesty International and the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) have long documented the Nigerian military’s atrocities—extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, and the destruction of entire villages—displacing countless families as refugees in their own land.

The Ishiagu siege, with its burning of homes and terrorizing of civilians, is but the latest chapter in this grim saga. The foresight of Biafra’s defense intelligence, which predicted these nationwide attacks, highlights the strategic clarity and resolve of leaders like Commander Gentle and Commander Makeup, who deserve commendation for their bravery in standing up to an oppressive state. Commander Gentle, with his recent impassioned appeal to the youth of Okigwe, has shown unwavering commitment to protecting Biafran lives, urging vigilance against Nigeria’s alleged plans to decimate Igbo populations. Similarly, Commander Makeup’s leadership in mobilizing defensive measures reflects a bold dedication to the survival of a people facing existential threats. Their courage in the face of a militarized state that labels dissent as terrorism is a beacon of hope for Biafrans seeking self-determination.

The roots of this conflict lie in Nigeria’s systemic marginalization of the Igbo people, a legacy of the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970) that claimed up to two million lives, mostly Igbo civilians, through violence and starvation. The federal government’s refusal to address economic neglect, political exclusion, and heavy militarization in the southeast fuels the Biafran struggle, led by figures like IPOB’s Nnamdi Kanu and Simon Ekpa of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile.

The 2017 terrorist designation of IPOB, despite a 2023 Enugu High Court ruling nullifying it (later contradicted by an Abuja Court of Appeal), has been used to justify indiscriminate violence against civilians. The Ishiagu operation, targeting entire communities rather than specific actors, exposes the hollowness of Nigeria’s claims to precision or justice.

The Biafran Defense Council’s special unit is not an act of aggression but a shield against a state that burns homes and scatters families. Nigeria’s failure to pursue dialogue or address legitimate grievances leaves Biafrans with little choice but to protect themselves. Commander Gentle and Commander Makeup embody the resilience of a people who refuse to be silenced or eradicated. Their leadership, alongside the Defense Council’s proactive measures, is a testament to the unbreakable spirit of Biafra.

The Biafra Republic Government in Exile BRGIE calls for international attention to Nigeria’s actions in Ishiagu and beyond. The United Nations, African Union, and global human rights bodies must investigate these atrocities and hold Nigeria accountable for its disproportionate use of force. However, the Biafran Defense Council’s efforts to protect its people should be recognized as a rightful response to an existential threat. Nigeria must end its military assaults and engage in meaningful dialogue to address the southeast’s grievances. Until then, the bravery of leaders like Commander Gentle and Commander Makeup, and the defensive resolve of the Biafran Defense Council, remain a vital bulwark against oppression, ensuring that the Biafran people’s quest for justice and self-determination endures.