IPOB warns Igbo youths against British Army recruitment, says its deceptive

IPOB warns Igbo youths against British Army recruitment, says its deceptive

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a strong warning to youths in the South-East, urging them to avoid participating in the ongoing recruitment drive by the British army.

The group described the recruitment as a “deceptive” scheme aimed at exploiting and discarding African soldiers.

In their statement, IPOB pointed to the historical injustices faced by African soldiers who fought for Britain during World War I.

According to the group, many African soldiers who died defending Britain were never recognized, and those who survived were sent back to Africa without any form of compensation. In contrast, their British and European counterparts were honored and compensated for their service.

IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, emphasized that Biafran youths should resist being recruited to fight for a nation that does not care for them.

The statement, released on Saturday, conveyed a strong message from IPOB’s leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, urging Biafran youths to steer clear of what they see as a dangerous trap set by the British government.

“The IPOB family, under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, cautions Biafran youths against falling for the British government’s deceptive move to recruit them among Commonwealth citizens for their army to fight future wars,” the statement read.

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IPOB highlighted how, during World War I, African soldiers were heavily involved in British military efforts, yet their contributions went largely unrecognized. Many of these soldiers, including those from Nigeria and other parts of West Africa, were returned home without any form of recognition or compensation after the war, despite the significant sacrifices they made.

The group warned that history is at risk of repeating itself, with the British government once again seeking to recruit African soldiers, particularly Biafrans, for future conflicts. IPOB insists that Biafrans should not allow themselves to be used as “sacrificial lambs” by a country that has historically disregarded their humanity.

IPOB further criticized Britain’s ongoing recruitment efforts, questioning why a country with strict immigration policies for Africans would offer an easy path to join its military. They urged Biafran parents to counsel their children against enlisting in the British army, warning that joining would only serve the interests of their oppressors.

Instead of participating in the British recruitment, IPOB called on the youths to support the movement’s efforts to restore an independent Biafra.

The group emphasized that any serious consideration by the United Kingdom regarding Biafrans joining them should first address the need for Biafra’s peaceful exit from Nigeria and the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who remains detained by the Nigerian government.

IPOB warns Igbo youths against British Army recruitment, says its deceptive