Article Details

Women in Imo State are crucial actors in the informal economy, particularly in agriculture and trade, and are active participants in social sectors such as education and healthcare. The rise of agitation by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), characterized by violence and the enforcement of "Sit-at-Home" (SAH) orders, has negatively affected these activities. This paper examines how the imposition and brutal enforcement of SAH orders have adversely affected the well-being and socio-economic livelihoods of women in Imo State. This paper covers the period from 2012 to 2023 and focuses on the lived experiences of women across six purposively selected Local Government Areas (LGAs). Using a qualitative methodology, primary data were collected through interviews and focus group discussions, complemented by secondary sources from academic journals and human rights reports. The study is grounded in Feminist Economics Theory (FET), which critically examines the gendered impact of conflict. Findings indicate that violent agitation and the enforcement of SAH orders have significantly exacerbated the existing socio-economic vulnerabilities of women, resulting in a decline in economic activity, a rise in unemployment, and a severe disruption of agricultural supply chains. Furthermore, the SAH mandates have critically crippled access to essential maternal healthcare and education. The paper underscores the urgent need for targeted, gender-sensitive policy actions to aid affected women and mitigate the long-term detrimental impacts of violence on gender equality and economic stability in the State.

Imo Women, Socio-economic Activities, IPOB, Feminist Economics, IPOB Agitation,