Mass arrests, extrajudicial killings in Southeast reason Igbo youths reject military – Intersociety
South-East Youths Reluctant to Join Military Amid Ongoing Security Operations
A recent report from the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, known as Intersociety, highlights a troubling trend in the South-East region of Nigeria. The organization claims that random military operations and mass arrests of Igbo youths by security forces have contributed to a significant decrease in the enrollment of young individuals from the area in the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Released on Sunday, the report indicates that over 6,000 families in the South-East are still searching for relatives—sons, daughters, and others—who allegedly were taken into custody by security agents. The findings, signed by Intersociety Lead Researcher Emeka Umeagbalasi and Professor Justin Akujieze, President of the Ekwenche Research Institute in Chicago, suggest that those arrested are often labeled as members or supporters of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) or its military wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
This situation has led to increasing reluctance among families in the region to permit their children, particularly those of military recruitment age, to enlist in the armed forces. Umeagbalasi stated that many families have withdrawn permission for their sons and daughters with military eligibility and academic qualifications to serve.
The report also notes that previous investigations found approximately 5,000 civilians from the South-East unaccounted for following alleged arrests or abductions between August 2015 and December 2019. Some of these individuals have reportedly been transferred to detention facilities in Northern Nigeria, specifically the WAWA Military Cantonment in Niger State, without families being informed of their whereabouts.
Furthermore, the report claims that about 70 percent of the missing persons since January 2021 were allegedly taken by military personnel, while others are believed to be victims of police crackdowns and the State Security Service.
These ongoing disappearances have fostered an environment of fear among families, significantly impacting their willingness to support military recruitment efforts.
Intersociety calls on the Defence Headquarters and relevant security agencies to provide a comprehensive account of individuals arrested or killed during military operations, including details about their identities, detention locations, and the circumstances surrounding their arrests or deaths. The organization has also urged the establishment of independent judicial commissions of inquiry in the South-East to investigate reports of disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and related abuses dating back to 2015.
