Bad Governance and Pro-Biafra Separatist Agitations in the South East: The Imo State Experience

This study examines the high level of insecurity, killings and mass migration of people out of the South East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, particularly Imo State. Since the return of civilian administration in 1999, Nigeria had been challenged by insecurity and economic downturn, but despite this the South East region has remained one of the most peaceful zones which had attracted local and foreign investors. The turn of events which has made the region totally insecure and uninhabitable is traceable to the irredentist activities of ProBiafra agitators, miscarriage of justice and government mishandling of the agitating groups, brutality of law enforcement agency, the arrest and continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi kanu, the leader of Pro-Biafra agitators among others. Findings has revealed that insecurity in the South East has crippled economic activities in the zone, led to the deaths of thousands and destruction of properties worth billions and the mass migration of Igbos out of the region .This work carried out an indept investigation into the causes, effects and remedial strategies that can curb the high spate of insecurity plaguing the entire South East geopolitical zone, but mostly Imo State. The work adopts a historical methodology of data analysis of quantitative and qualitative approach, which encourages ample use of primary, secondary and tertiary sources in the stud