Politically Sponsored Cult Groups, Not IPOB, Fueling Insecurity in South-East — Prof. Chidi Odinkalu
By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
Prominent human rights lawyer and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has asserted that politically sponsored cult groups, not the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), are the main drivers of insecurity in Nigeria’s South-East region.
Speaking during an interview on Politics Today on Channels Television, Odinkalu argued that while the activities of IPOB have contributed to instability, it is “ridiculous” to attribute every violent incident in the region to the separatist organisation.
Cultism: The Hidden Engine Behind South-East Insecurity
According to Odinkalu, the most pressing security concern in the South-East is not IPOB but politically financed cult groups operating with impunity in many communities.
“Let me tell you this: the biggest single issue, in security terms, confronting the South-East, in my estimation, based on the work I have done on this, is — I regret to disappoint you — not IPOB, it is one word: cults, financed by politicians,” he said.
He lamented that the problem of cultism has escalated beyond control, warning that these groups are now more organised, better armed, and more politically connected than ever before.
Akahi News gathered that several analysts and security experts share similar views, pointing to a pattern of politically motivated violence and the rise of armed youth gangs across the region.
“The cults are the biggest single issue, and you don’t have a clue how terrible the problem of cults in the South-East is at this particular time,” Odinkalu added.
IPOB’s Role “Overblown,” Says Odinkalu
While acknowledging the presence of IPOB, Odinkalu described the frequent tendency to blame the group for every violent act as “overblown” and misleading.
“Unquestionably, there is an IPOB issue, but the IPOB issue is overblown,” he said.
“There are communities in the South-East where IPOB cannot operate at all. The real monster is cultism, and it is being financed by political interests.”
Reports monitored by Akahi News indicate that the government’s overemphasis on IPOB has made it easier for cult groups to thrive under the radar, carrying out kidnappings, extortions, and assassinations disguised as separatist activities.
Renewed Violence Across the South-East
Odinkalu’s remarks come amid a resurgence of violent attacks on police facilities, security checkpoints, and residents in the South-East. In states like Imo, Anambra, Enugu, and Ebonyi, communities continue to experience targeted killings and property destruction.
Security reports reviewed by Akahi News suggest that many of these incidents stem from turf wars between rival cult gangs competing for influence, often backed by local political figures.
Some security officials privately admitted to Akahi News that distinguishing between cult-related crimes and separatist attacks has become increasingly difficult because the perpetrators often claim allegiance to IPOB to deflect attention.
Call for Strategic Security Reforms
Odinkalu urged policymakers to focus on dismantling political networks that sponsor violence, rather than relying solely on military operations. He emphasised that the fight against insecurity in the South-East requires addressing the economic and political roots of cultism.
“You can’t bomb cultism out of existence. It is political, economic, and deeply rooted in the failure of governance,” he said.
Akahi News observed that his comments have sparked widespread discussion among political analysts, traditional leaders, and civil society groups, many of whom agree that the cultism crisis has received insufficient national attention.
Rising Concern Over Political Complicity
For years, residents of the South-East have accused politicians of arming and sponsoring local gangs during elections, only for those same gangs to turn to violent crime afterward. Communities in Imo, Abia, and Anambra have repeatedly appealed to security agencies to crack down on these groups.
Experts who spoke to Akahi News noted that a sustainable peace plan must include the disarmament and rehabilitation of youth gangs and the prosecution of their political sponsors.
As violence continues to claim lives across the South-East, Odinkalu’s warning has reignited calls for an urgent rethink of Nigeria’s internal security strategy, particularly in politically volatile regions.
Akahi News will continue to monitor developments and provide verified updates as the story unfolds.
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