"Why Many Igbo Youths Avoid Joining The Nigerian Army"

Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has said many young people from the South-East are unwilling to join the Nigerian Army because they no longer have confidence in the country's military institution.

Ejimakor made his views known on Wednesday in a post shared on X, where he gave reasons he believes have discouraged many Igbo youths from taking part in military recruitment.

According to him, the decision by many youths to stay away from the armed forces is not because they lack courage or patriotism.

He said the problem comes from what they see as years of unfair treatment, exclusion and distrust toward the military.

He argued that many people in the South-East believe the security system has not treated the region fairly over the years.

He also claimed that the leadership of the country's security agencies does not reflect equal representation of different ethnic groups, making many Igbo youths feel left out.

Ejimakor further stated that painful memories from past military actions against Igbos continue to affect the feelings of many people in the region.

He referred to the killings that occurred before and during the Nigerian Civil War and said later security operations in places such as Nkpor, Aba, Obigbo and Port Harcourt have also increased the distrust among many young people.

He added that another issue affecting their decision is the reported rehabilitation and integration of some former Boko Haram members into the military. According to him, many youths from the South-East find it difficult to accept serving in the same institution alongside people who were once linked to terrorism.

Ejimakor maintained that the refusal of many Igbo youths to enlist should not be seen as an act of fear. Instead, he described it as a deliberate decision by people who believe the institution has failed to earn their confidence and has not addressed their long-standing concerns.