ONITSHA, Nigeria, Aug 23 (Reuters) - At least two people
were killed in a clash between Nigerian state security officers
and a group campaigning for the secession of a part of
southeastern Nigeria formerly known as Biafra, security services
said on Sunday.
The incident between Department of State Services (DSS)
agents and members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra
(IPOB) took place in southeastern Nigeria's Enugu state.
DSS said two of its personnel were killed in what they
called an unprovoked attack, while IPOB, in a statement, said 21
of their members were killed and more than 40 others arrested
after security forces stormed one of their meetings.
DSS did not immediately respond to queries on IPOB member
deaths. IPOB described itself as a peaceful group and denied
killing any DSS agents.
IPOB leaders have called for secession in the region, where
tensions have simmered since a Biafra separatist rebellion
sparked a civil war in 1967-70 that killed an estimated one
million people.
In 2017, Nigeria's armed forces designated IPOB as a
"terrorist organisation" after it stepped up calls for
secession.
Amnesty International in 2016 accused Nigeria's security
forces of killing at least 150 Biafra separatists at peaceful
rallies. The military and police denied the allegations.