The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has attributed the low recruitment numbers and growing reluctance among Igbo youths to join the Nigerian military to widespread allegations of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial actions in the South-East.
According to a detailed statement released on Monday from the organization’s headquarters in Onitsha, Anambra State, the human rights group claimed that unresolved cases involving missing young men and women following security operations in the region have severely damaged trust between the local population and the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Intersociety noted that repeated recruitment drives by the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force have recorded disproportionately low application rates from the five South-Eastern states (Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo) compared to other geopolitical zones.
The organization alleged that hundreds of young Igbo men arrested during counter-insurgency and internal security operations over recent years remain unaccounted for, leaving families without closure.
The group emphasized that fear of arbitrary detention or victimisation within state security apparatuses acts as a primary deterrent for young job seekers in the region.
In a joint statement signed by Emeka Umeagbalasi, Board Chairman of Intersociety, and Chidimma Udegbunam, Esq., Head of Campaign and Workgroup, the organization urged state authorities to address the core grievances of the region rather than viewing low participation solely as a lack of interest in national service.
”The reluctance of youths from the South-East to enlist into the Nigerian Military is not a result of apathy toward national service, but a direct consequence of trauma, mistrust, and documented cases of untraceable detentions during regional security exercises,” the statement read. “Until there is full accountability, transparency, and closure regarding missing individuals, confidence in security institutions will remain deeply eroded.”
To restore confidence and ensure equitable representation across national security bodies, Intersociety outlined several key demands:
The immediate establishment of a transparent panel of inquiry to investigate all reported cases of missing persons in the South-East from 2020 to present. Full public disclosure of persons held in military and security detention facilities across the country to allow family tracing.
Clear enforcement of constitutional rights and international humanitarian standards during internal security operations within civilian communities.
