The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) has retracted its ranking of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as the 10th deadliest terror group in the world.
Recall that the GTI, a report published annually by Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), had ranked the Biafra separatist group as the 10th deadliest terror group in the world in 2022.
However, GTI in a statement published on its website on Monday, March 27, 2023, titled: “Statement regarding Indigenous People of the Biafra (IPOB) & the Global Terrorism Index,” retracted its earlier report.
The statement reads: “The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is a pro-Biafra secessionist movement based in Southeast Nigeria that aims to establish an independent state of Biafra.
“IPOB was proscribed as a terrorist group by the Nigerian government in 2017. In recent years, IPOB has been linked to several attacks, which have been attributed to its paramilitary wing, the Eastern Security Network (IPOB-ESN). The group has not claimed responsibility for any of these attacks.
“It is important therefore to differentiate between the peaceful activities of the group and its alleged involvement in violent activity.
“We have today updated the Global Terrorism Index 2023 to reflect this necessary clarification.”
The GTI report published annually had listed the Islamic State (IS) and its affiliates, as the most vicious and deadliest terrorist groups in the world in 2022 and in the last eight years.
They were followed by Al-Shabaab, ISK and Jamaat Nusrat Al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM).
In the chart report, IS killed 1,045 in 410 attacks with 644 injured. Alshabab killed 784 in 315 attacks with 1,016 injured.
Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISK) killed 498 in 141 attacks with 832 injured. Jamaat Nusrat Al-lslam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) killed 279 in 77 attacks with 215 injured. Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) killed 233 in 30 attacks with 113 injured.