Aloy Ejimakor, who serves as Special Counsel for Nnamdi Kanu of the Indigenous People of Biafra, has stated that young people from the South-East are avoiding the Nigerian Army due to a fundamental lack of faith in the organization. He emphasizes that this is not a result of a lack of courage, but rather a deliberate choice to withhold service from a body they view as untrustworthy.
The lawyer highlighted that the armed forces have historically been used against the Igbo people. He pointed to persistent concerns regarding the integration of former Boko Haram fighters into military ranks as a major point of contention. According to Ejimakor, many in the region find the prospect of serving alongside former terrorists who once opposed the state to be offensive.
Furthermore, Ejimakor referenced historical grievances and recent instances of state-sanctioned violence in locations such as Obigbo, Nkpor, and Aba. He argues that these events have left lasting scars that influence the perspective of the younger generation. Ultimately, he characterizes their decision not to enlist as a form of non-violent resistance against an institution they believe has marginalized and betrayed their community.
