The Nigerian Army has issued a stern warning to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) regarding their recent statements urging South Eastern youths to avoid participating in the ongoing recruitment drive for the army. This warning was conveyed through a statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in Abuja on Tuesday.
Nwachukwu condemned IPOB’s call as a “brazen yet futile attempt to undermine national unity and cohesion,” characterizing it as a reckless and misguided effort to resort to fear-mongering. He noted that IPOB’s statements have discouraged youth from the South East from applying for the Nigerian Army’s 88 Regular Recruits Intake (RRI) exercise.
The army spokesperson emphasized that the youth from the South East have consistently demonstrated their patriotism and commitment by fulfilling their recruitment quotas in both military and paramilitary organizations. He also highlighted their participation in the civil service across federal ministries and departments.
Despite IPOB’s threats, Nwachukwu reported a strong turnout of applicants from the South East for the ongoing recruitment. He referenced the recent commissioning of Direct Regular Cadets at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), where South Eastern youths successfully filled their slots.
Nwachukwu asserted that the South East remains a vital source of dedicated and professional personnel in the Nigerian military, contrasting their loyalty with IPOB, which he labeled as a band of terrorists responsible for economic decline in the region. He accused IPOB of enforcing illegal sit-at-home orders that have devastated local businesses and of being involved in criminal activities like kidnappings.
He described IPOB’s recent statement as a veiled threat intended to intimidate the youth, warning that aligning with their cause could jeopardize their futures. Nwachukwu encouraged South Eastern youths to ignore IPOB’s tactics and pursue their aspirations in the military, emphasizing that the military values merit over ethnicity or religion.
The Army spokesperson also highlighted the military’s successful efforts in restoring peace to the region and combating IPOB’s factions, asserting that IPOB’s propaganda reflects a desperate attempt to maintain relevance as their influence wanes.
He concluded by urging South Eastern youths and the Igbo community to stay resolute and not allow anyone to hinder their dreams and aspirations.