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Army Responds to IPOB’s Call for Igbo Youths to Reject Ongoing Recruitment
The Nigerian Army has issued a strong warning to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for their unpatriotic call urging youths in the Southeast to abandon the current recruitment drive for the military.
In a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, denounced this call as a “brazen yet futile attempt to undermine national unity and cohesion.”
He described the reckless statement circulating in the media, which discourages youth participation in the Nigerian Army’s 88 Regular Recruits Intake (RRI), as misguided.
Nwachukwu emphasized that the youth from the Southeast have consistently shown their dedication and patriotism by fulfilling their recruitment quotas in various military and paramilitary services, as well as contributing significantly to federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
He noted that, contrary to IPOB’s unfounded threats, the registration for the 88 RRI has seen a promising number of applicants from the region. He also highlighted that Southeast youths successfully occupied slots during the recent commissioning of Direct Regular Cadets at the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).
The General reiterated that the Southeast remains a crucial source of loyal and skilled personnel within the Nigerian military, contrasting this with IPOB, which he labeled as a group of terrorists and militias that have led the region into economic decline.
Nwachukwu criticized IPOB’s enforcement of illegal sit-at-home orders that have stifled local businesses and their involvement in kidnappings and violence that have inflicted suffering on the very communities they claim to represent.
He characterized the latest IPOB statement as a veiled threat aimed at intimidating the youth, whose futures they are jeopardizing for their own selfish motives.
The Army spokesman made it clear that IPOB has only intensified the challenges faced by the Southeast, calling it a destructive force. He urged the youth to reject IPOB’s tactics and pursue their aspirations within the military, a profession that prioritizes merit over ethnicity, religion, or creed.
Nwachukwu highlighted the Nigerian military’s commendable efforts in restoring peace in the region and countering the threats posed by IPOB’s terrorist factions, noting that recent successes in combating these criminals reflect the strength and commitment of Southeast personnel serving in the military.
He dismissed IPOB’s propaganda as the desperate cries of a failing organization trying to cling to relevance as it loses its influence.
The General called on the youth of the Southeast and the Igbo community to remain steadfast and not allow anyone to undermine their dreams and rights. He condemned IPOB’s actions as causing only pain, economic hardship, and fear in the region.
“The Nigerian Army stands as a beacon of hope, providing opportunities for personal growth, honor, and national service,” he concluded. (NAN)
Former governor of Sokoto State and current Senator, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has reaffirmed his party’s commitment to reclaiming power in 2027.
Speaking on Monday at the launch of a Ramadan aid distribution programme, Tambuwal assured supporters that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would regain its “stolen mandate” in the next general elections.
The initiative, aimed at assisting fasting Muslims during Ramadan, will benefit 30,000 households across Sokoto State.
Tambuwal noted that this effort was in addition to food assistance programmes being carried out by PDP lawmakers at both state and federal levels.
“As you are aware, many people have lost their lives and are no longer with us. By His grace, we are here to witness another Ramadan and provide support to our people once again,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to party leaders and supporters for their commitment, stressing that the PDP remained united in Sokoto.
“We are one big, united family. We shall continue to work together towards reclaiming what has been taken away from us.
In the last elections, our mandate was forcefully stolen, but we are restrategising and reorganising. By the grace of Allah, we will reclaim it in 2027,” Tambuwal declared.
Sokoto State PDP chairman, Comrade Bello Goronyo, echoed similar sentiments, thanking party members for their loyalty.
He criticised the current government, attributing the economic hardships faced by Nigerians to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“We urge the people of Sokoto and Nigerians at large to free themselves from the misgovernance of the APC in 2027,” Goronyo stated.
The PDP’s Ramadan assistance programme includes the distribution of thousands of bags of rice and other essential grains to youth and women-led organisations across the state.
Oby Ezekwesili, former minister of education, has urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio to step aside until an investigation into Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims against him is concluded.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central, had accused the senate president of sexually harassing her.
The allegation followed a heated argument between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan over seating arrangement.
Subsequently, the senate referred Akpoti-Uduaghan to the committee on ethics, privileges, and public petitions for disciplinary review.
The senator was thereafter suspended for six months.
In a statement on Monday, Ezekwesili demanded that Barau Jibrin, deputy senate president, should preside over a session tasked with conducting a swift and independent investigation into Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition.
The former minister said the senate should reverse the suspension of the senator and retract all punitive measures imposed on her.
“The senate president steps aside, and the deputy senate president immediately convenes a session that rescinds the unconstitutional and illegal suspension of senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and reverses all punitive measures imposed on her so she resumes her duties as a duly elected senator representing her Kogi central constituency and gets the fair hearing due her within senate processes,” Ezekwesili wrote on X.
“Resolve and announce that a prompt independent investigation into the resubmitted petition by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is imperative and swiftly request ICPC to designate the Independent Investigation consistent with the ICPC Act which designates sexual harassment as one of the corrupt practices it can investigate and prosecute.”
Ezekwesili urged the senate to restructure its ethics committee in response to the allegation, harping on the need to appoint an independent investigator to thoroughly examine the matter.
“Reconstitute the senate ethics and privileges committee under a new chairperson with the mandate to commence a public hearing on the resubmitted petition on sexual harassment by the senate president Akpabio,” she said.
“The committee receives informed recommendations from the Independent Investigation by ICPC-appointed investigator and appearances/oral and written testimonies and evidences from the two parties to the matter — Senators Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio respectively.”
She advised that the findings of the committee should be referred to the attorney-general of the federation for action.
“The senate in plenary receives the report findings and recommendations of the ethics committee, debates and refers the matter to the attorney general as may be appropriate,” she added.
“The senate and HoR partner with women in Nigeria groups and other relevant stakeholders like NBA and Nigeria police to launch a comprehensive diagnostic review of laws, regulations, policies and procedures that prevent SGBV and protect the rights of women in public and private spaces, identify existing barriers and gaps, develop and implement specific action plan on a fast track timeline.”
The Rivers State House of Assembly has issued a warrant for the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), to appear before it.
The Martins Amaewhule-led Assembly issued the arrest warrant on Monday during plenary, after the expiration of its 72-hour ultimatum for the electoral chief to appear before the House.
Enebeli had fixed August 9, 2025, to conduct a fresh Local Government (LG) poll in the state following a Supreme Court verdict that annulled the October 5, 2024 local government poll conducted in the state.
The Amaewhule-led Assembly had vowed to probe the conduct of Enebeli regarding the conduct of the annulled LG poll last year.
Over the weekend, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, invited members of the Assembly to a dialogue on the implementation the Supreme Court’s verdict.
The Supreme Court had also barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation and other agencies from releasing funds to the government of Rivers State until it purges itself of what the court described as flagrant disobedience to court orders.
In the judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye, the five-man panel of the court had unanimously dismissed the cross-appeal filed by Fubara challenging the validity of the House of Assembly presided over by Amaewhule as the Speaker.
In dismissing Fubara’s appeal, the court ordered Amaewhule to resume sitting immediately with other elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.