Special Counsel to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, Aloy Ejimakor, has said many Igbo youths are unwilling to enlist in the Nigerian Army because they have lost confidence in the institution.
In a post shared on his X account, Ejimakor argued that the reluctance of young people from the South-East to join the military stems from what he described as longstanding mistrust, perceived marginalisation, and historical grievances.
According to him, the armed forces have repeatedly been deployed against the Igbo during periods of crisis, creating deep-seated resentment among many in the region.
“The reluctance of Igbo youths to enlist in the Nigerian armed forces is not a deficit of valour, but a calculated refusal to serve an institution they deeply mistrust,” he wrote.
Ejimakor further alleged that the South-East is disadvantaged within what he described as an ethnically imbalanced leadership structure in Nigeria’s security services.
He also cited historical events, including the killings of Igbos in the North before the Nigerian Civil War, as well as more recent security operations in places such as Nkpor, Aba, Obigbo and Port Harcourt, claiming they have reinforced distrust among youths in the region.
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The lawyer additionally said many young people are dissatisfied with reports that former Boko Haram members who had renounced violence were integrated into security structures, arguing that this has further discouraged enlistment.
He maintained that the decision by many Igbo youths not to join the military should not be interpreted as cowardice but as a form of protest against what they perceive as institutional bias.
Ejimakor’s remarks reflect his personal views and come amid ongoing debates over military recruitment, regional representation in Nigeria’s security agencies, and allegations of marginalisation.
Nigerian military authorities have consistently maintained that recruitment into the armed forces is conducted in line with constitutional provisions and established procedures, and have repeatedly rejected allegations of ethnic bias.