Nneka Chimezie, the National President of the Igbo Women Assembly (IWA), has attributed the declining interest of Igbo youths in military recruitment to alleged marginalization and delayed promotions of Igbo officers within the Nigerian military.
She emphasized that Igbos have faced consistent exclusion from key appointments, with the region still yet to produce a Nigerian President since the 1966 coup that led to the death of General Aguiyi Ironsi. Chimezie made these remarks in response to a recent statement by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, concerning the security situation in the South East.
According to Chimezie, “Igbo officers, especially in the security agencies, have been denied their rightful promotions, and this has contributed to the loss of interest in military recruitment among Igbo youths.” She noted that many Igbos are reluctant to join the military or police forces due to their poor career progression compared to their counterparts from other regions.
She continued, “In various federal establishments, the South East’s quota is always shortchanged. This is a key issue driving the disillusionment of Igbo youths. When they graduate, they face significant barriers to employment, unlike their peers from other parts of the country. This sense of exclusion from Nigeria’s mainstream structure fuels their protests.”
Chimezie called for full inclusion and integration of Igbo youths into the Nigerian system, insisting that the Igbo Women Assembly will no longer remain silent on the challenges facing the region’s youth.
She also expressed concern over the high number of security checkpoints in the South East, alleging widespread extortion at these points. The security situation has caused some Igbo youths to flee their communities due to fear of insecurity.
In light of these issues, Chimezie urged the Federal Government to open a dialogue with members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), stating that, given the amnesty offered to repentant Boko Haram members, engaging with IPOB would be a constructive step toward addressing their grievances.
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