Join Nigerian Army And Be Killed Cheaply By Northern Terrorists — IPOB Warns South-East Youths
IPOB accused the Nigerian government of sacrificing Igbo soldiers in Northern Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram and other terror groups.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a “strong public warning” to Igbo youths, urging them not to participate in the latest round of recruitment by the Nigerian Army.
In a statement signed by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB alleged that young recruits, particularly from the Southeast, are being used as cannon fodder in what it describes as politically motivated military operations.
IPOB accused the Nigerian government of sacrificing Igbo soldiers in Northern Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram and other terror groups, citing viral reports and videos of soldiers lamenting poor welfare conditions, lack of equipment, and inadequate support from the military high command.
“The Nigerian Army continues to recruit large numbers every year, not out of national interest, but because soldiers are dying in droves or resigning due to poor morale,” the statement read.
“Many of those who joined in recent years have either perished or disappeared under suspicious circumstances.”
The Biafran group further alleged that the military is involved in clandestine operations linked to international interests, particularly those of Western powers.
IPOB claimed that the ongoing recruitment may be tied to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) efforts to mobilise forces for conflict in the Sahel region, which it claims could involve Nigerian troops acting as proxies for Western imperialists.
“Any Igbo youth who enlists will either be handed over to Northern terrorists, killed in battle, or come back maimed and abandoned. Do not allow yourselves to be used in a war that is not yours,” IPOB cautioned.
The group also criticised the treatment of soldiers from minority ethnic groups in Nigeria, claiming systemic ethnic bias and alleging that successful Igbo soldiers are seen as threats by the state.
Instead of joining the military, IPOB advised Igbo youths to focus on agriculture and local development, stating, “Return to your village and farm. That is a better fate than returning home in disgrace — or not returning at all.”
The army recently opened applications for new recruits as part of its ongoing efforts to boost manpower amid persistent security challenges across the country.
This development underscores the growing tension between pro-Biafran groups and the Nigerian government over national loyalty, ethnic equity, and the role of the military in Nigeria’s internal conflicts.
