The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Tuesday asked Igbo leaders to avoid encouraging young people in the South East to join the Nigerian Army.
The group made this call in a statement, where it raised issues about the treatment of Igbo officers in the military.
IPOB said the army is trying to get the support of traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups, and other respected figures to convince young men in the region to enlist.
However, the group said this move may not favour the interest of Igbo youth.
They claimed that the number of people recruited from the South East is often smaller than what is seen in other parts of the country.
IPOB also raised concerns about the low number of Igbo officers holding top positions in the military and other security agencies.
The group asked community leaders to think about the treatment of Igbo officers in the armed forces before asking young people to sign up.
It questioned the fairness of the system and pointed to a lack of representation and justice.
IPOB also talked about the dangers faced by soldiers, especially those posted to violent areas. It asked the army to be more open about how many lives are lost in ongoing operations.
The group repeated its disapproval of what it called a “proxy war” involving West African countries and said regional leaders should focus on giving young people jobs and other chances to succeed.
Although IPOB is a separatist group, it used this moment to call for careful thinking by Igbo leaders. So far, the Nigerian Army has not replied to the issues raised.
Leave a Reply