The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a stern caution to political and community leaders in the South-East, urging them to desist from mobilising young people in the region for enlistment into the Nigerian Army.
In a statement on Tuesday, IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, accused the Nigerian military of manipulating the South-East populace under false pretenses, allegedly seeking to use Igbo youths as cannon fodder in violent conflicts, especially in the northern parts of the country.
According to IPOB, the Nigerian Army has been secretly engaging traditional rulers, clergy, community elders, and youth leaders across the region, encouraging them to rally support for military recruitment drives.
“The Nigerian Army has begun employing Igbo individuals to mislead Ndigbo into enrolling their children in the Nigerian Army,” the group said.
It further claimed, “The Nigerian Army assigned 3000 individuals from Kaduna and various northern states, while only 200 individuals were allocated to each state from the South-East region, indicating that we do not belong to Nigeria at all. Join the Nigerian Army and endure the challenges.”
IPOB raised questions about the fairness and transparency of the recruitment process, and accused the government of marginalising the South-East in gainful employment opportunities.
“The question is, if the Nigerian Army presents a solid job prospect, will the Nigerian government or its violent military provide Igbo youths with such an opportunity?”
“Are our young people not capable of securing jobs in the Central Bank, NNPC, EFCC, Customs, and other profitable parastatals in Nigeria?” the group queried.
IPOB also criticised the government’s treatment of soldiers killed in action, especially those from the South-East.
“What actions has the Nigerian government taken to support the families of soldiers who died in active duty defending Nigeria?” it asked.
“Why were the valiant Igbo soldiers who allied with their peers to prevent Nigeria’s downfall in 1966 characterized, betrayed, and labeled ‘the Igbo coup plotters,’ resulting in the slaughter of thousands of Ndigbo in the North during that same year?”
According to the group, the identities of many soldiers killed in the North are kept secret, and a large proportion of the casualties are of Igbo extraction.
It also condemned the Army’s activities in the South-East, describing them as targeted assaults on local communities.
IPOB further alleged that the military recruitment push was part of a broader “population reduction agenda” targeting the Igbo people.”
“The group also took exception to reported plans to deploy South-East recruits under the ECOWAS standby force mission in the Sahel region, branding it a “proxy war.”
Powerful said, “Our recommendation to the Nigerian Army is to enlist thousands of Igbo youths whom they unlawfully hold in different detention facilities across Nigeria.”
He continued, “Or even better, visit the mass graves where thousands of Igbo youths were buried and enlist their bodies into the Nigerian Army to fight for them.”
In its final warning, IPOB said, “We caution Ndigbo against encouraging and campaigning for Igbo youths to enlist to combat state and foreign-sponsored terrorists who have more resources than the Nigerian Army.”
“We will hold responsible anyone who encourages Igbo youths to the slaughter of Fulani terrorists under the guise of joining the Nigerian Army. IPOB will oppose all depopulation strategies targeting Ndigbo.”
