NIGERIA: IPOB Warns South-East Youths Against Joining Nigerian Army

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a strong warning to youths in the South-East, urging them to steer clear of the ongoing Nigerian Army recruitment exercise.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the group’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, IPOB cautioned that enlisting in the army could place South-East recruits in grave danger, especially in volatile regions dominated by terrorist activities.

The group accused the Nigerian military of ethnic bias, alleging that recruits from the South are often sent to fight Boko Haram and other insurgent groups in the North, where they suffer from poor welfare, inadequate equipment, and lack of support.

“The global family of IPOB once more urges Biafran youths to refrain from joining the recent Nigerian Army recruitment. Before considering joining the Nigerian Army, reflect on this: What has happened to those who enlisted a few years back? Numerous individuals have fallen victim to Boko Haram violence and other terrorist attacks,” the statement read.

Emma Powerful further claimed that while young soldiers die in battle, the government is “compensating terrorists under the guise of rehabilitation” and integrating them into security structures.

The group also alleged that military barracks and police stations in Northern Nigeria have been overrun by terrorists, yet soldiers deployed to these areas continue to be treated with neglect.

“No Biafran youth ought to position themselves as instruments for the Federal Government, ECOWAS, and Western imperialists to be deployed against the Sahel Nations. Any Igbo youth who enlists in the Nigerian Army—your name will be regrettable, ” the statement continued.

Powerful urged South-East youths to return to their communities and take up farming or entrepreneurship, arguing that these paths offer dignity and survival compared to what he described as a thankless military career.

“Rather than joining the Nigerian Army, return to your village and pursue farming. As an indigenous Igbo individual, your achievement is seen as a risk to the Nigerian state. Be of service to Nigeria as an Igbo individual and return in disgrace,” he advised.

The statement has sparked debate across the region, with some critics accusing IPOB of discouraging patriotism, while others have echoed concerns about the treatment of minority recruits in Nigeria’s security services.

The Nigerian military is yet to respond to IPOB’s allegations as at the time of this report.