The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called on young people from Nigeria’s South-East to stay away from the ongoing recruitment by the Nigerian Army.
The group expressed concerns that Igbo youths who enlist could end up in dangerous parts of the country where terrorist groups are active.
IPOB made its position known through a statement issued by its spokesperson.
It claimed that many young soldiers from the South-East have in the past been posted to areas affected by terrorism, especially in the North, where they face high risks without enough support or protection.
According to the group, some of those who joined the military in recent years have either lost their lives or returned home with serious injuries.
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The group argued that instead of serving in what it described as an unfair system, youths in the South-East should focus on farming and other local means of earning a living.
IPOB said that the army does not treat soldiers from different ethnic groups equally and accused the Federal Government of failing to protect those it sends to fight insurgents.
The group also pointed to reports and videos showing soldiers in conflict zones expressing frustration about poor treatment, lack of basic needs, and being used as tools in political games.
IPOB alleged that while young soldiers suffer on the battlefield, some of the terrorists they fight are later pardoned, paid, and even absorbed into the system as so-called repentant fighters.
It warned that any Igbo youth who joins the army could face the same fate as others who were either killed, jailed, or abandoned by the military after being used in violent conflicts.
The group said that fighting for the country as an Igbo person often leads to more pain than reward, as their loyalty is not recognized.
IPOB concluded by urging youths in the South-East to return to their communities and focus on building their future through local activities instead of joining what it described as a risky and unrewarding path in the Nigerian Army.
