The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called on Igbo youths to reject enlistment in the Nigerian Army, citing concerns about the dangers posed by militant groups like Boko Haram. Instead, the group encourages young people in the South-East to return home and engage in farming.
In a statement issued by IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful, the group warned that joining the military could expose Igbo recruits to ethnic discrimination and dangerous conflict zones, particularly in the North.
The separatist group highlighted its long-standing opposition to military service, alleging that Igbo soldiers are often sent to battlefronts in hazardous areas while enduring mistreatment by the military.
“Before considering enlisting in the Army, ask yourself what has happened to those who joined in recent years. Many have been killed by Boko Haram and other terrorist groups,” the statement stated.
IPOB also referred to reports and viral videos showing Nigerian soldiers complaining about poor pay, inadequate medical care, and insufficient equipment.
The group accused the government of exploiting these soldiers through secretive political arrangements with Nigerian politicians and Western allies.
“Military barracks and police stations in the North have been overrun by terrorists, yet the government rewards the killers of these soldiers with money, jobs, and scholarships,” the statement added.
The group warned that many Igbo youths who have joined the army have either died in conflict or returned home with physical and emotional scars, without receiving any benefits for their service.
IPOB further argued that these youths risk becoming pawns in what it calls a state-sponsored conflict, designed to serve the interests of the Nigerian government, ECOWAS, and Western powers.
Concluding its message, IPOB urged Igbo youths to abandon military service and instead return to their communities to take up farming, which it described as a more stable and rewarding path.
“Your service in the military will be misrepresented as a war against the North, and your efforts will be repaid with disgrace,” IPOB said.
The group reiterated its position: “Do not join the Nigerian Army, which is based on ethnic bias and aligned with those who support terrorism.”
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