Manny Ita
A recent intelligence report by geopolitical research firm SB Morgen (SBM) Intelligence has revealed a grim expansion of Nigeria’s security crisis, with violent incidents now penetrating previously stable areas of the South East. The “Nigeria Security and Political Economy” report for mid-January 2026 warns that this “new map of insecurity” is specifically targeting the region’s human capital, threatening to spark a mass exodus of high-skill professionals.
According to the report, the nature of violence in the South East has shifted from generalized unrest to targeted attacks on the professional class. The document highlights the recent abduction and killing of Dr. Andrew Orovwigho in Enugu East as a sentinel event, illustrating a trend where doctors, lawyers, and engineers are increasingly viewed as high-value targets for kidnapping syndicates.
”In the South East, recent security incidents show a looming threat to human capital retention, particularly in high-skill sectors,” the report states. “Previously perceived ‘safe zones’ are now within the operational reach of mobile terrorists and organized criminal groups.”
The ripple effects on the regional economy are becoming profound. SBM Intelligence notes that “growth corridors”—areas designated for industrial and technological expansion—are under threat as firms struggle to justify the safety risks to their workforce. High-skill sectors, including healthcare, fintech, and academia, are reporting a sharp decline in staff retention, as professionals either relocate to Lagos or seek opportunities abroad (the “Japa” phenomenon).
Beyond the threat to professionals, the report underscores the persistent economic paralysis caused by the “sit-at-home” orders, which continue to undermine the region’s ₦5.7 trillion collective budget for the 2026 fiscal year. Analysts warn that if the trend of targeting skilled workers persists, the South East risks a “brain drain” that could set its developmental goals back by decades.
Despite the Federal Government’s increased security budget, the SBM report concludes that without a “sector-wide security strategy” and sustained local deployment, the erosion of the South East’s human capital will likely accelerate through 2026.
