INDEPENDENT PEOPLE OF BIAFRA SECESSION AGITATION AND NIGERIA'S FOREIGN IMAGE, 2015-2023

This study examines the impact of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) secession agitation on Nigeria’s foreign image during Buhari’s two term tenure from 2015 to 2023. The study utilized a qualitative descriptive design as it’s research design. Both primary and secondary data were employed in the analysis. Primary data was collected through interviews with Academics in the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos, and experts at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA). Secondary data was sourced from scholarly journals, policy documents, official reports, and credible news media. Respondents highlighted key triggers of IPOB's emergence such as political marginalization, economic neglect, and post-war injustices. The findings also revealed that IPOB’s activities—such as sit-at-home orders, protests, and international campaigns—have had a significant influence on Nigeria’s foreign image, attracting both sympathy and criticism. However, the government’s militarized response, the proscription of IPOB as a terrorist group, and the controversial arrests/abduction of its leader Nnamdi Kanu, have been perceived internationally as repressive and undemocratic. Secondary data supported these claims by documenting international criticism from human rights organizations and the media. The finding of thisresearch concludes that the IPOB agitation and the government’s response have collectively contributed to Nigeria’s diminishing reputation on the global stage. It recommends inclusive dialogue, human rights-based governance, and policy reforms to rebuild Nigeria’s international image.