Igbo Youths' Reluctance to Join Nigerian Army: Aloy Ejimakor Weighs In

The low number of Igbo youths enlisting in the Nigerian armed forces has sparked concern from the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu. However, according to lawyer Aloy Ejimakor, this reluctance is not due to a lack of bravery, but rather a deliberate decision to avoid serving in an institution that they deeply distrust. Ejimakor made this statement in response to Shaibu's comments, highlighting the historical and ongoing marginalization of Igbo people within Nigeria's security services. He noted that the armed forces have often been used against the Igbo people, citing the 1967 army massacres in the North and more recent incidents of violence against youths suspected of ties to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Ejimakor also pointed out that the integration of 'repentant' Boko Haram terrorists into the military has further eroded trust among Igbo youths. 'To ask them to fight under a biased command, alongside former terrorists, is a compromise of dignity they refuse to make,' he said. 'Their reluctance to enlist is not cowardice, but rather a quiet, powerful protest against an institution that has often betrayed the Igbo people.'