Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to Nnamdi Kanu and a leading figure associated with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), says low enlistment of Igbo youths into the Nigerian Army is driven by distrust rather than lack of courage. In posts on X reported by multiple outlets, Ejimakor argues that the armed forces are perceived as biased and repeatedly used against Igbo people, leading youths to refuse service as a “calculated” stand. He points to alleged ethnic marginalization within Nigeria’s security structure, including an ethnically unbalanced leadership that he says disadvantages the Igbo. Ejimakor also cites historical and alleged more recent experiences of violence, including the 1967 army massacres of Igbos in the North and incidents he links to state actions in places such as Nkpor, the Aba prayer ground, Obigbo, and events including a Trump victory rally in Port Harcourt where youths suspected of IPOB ties were allegedly targeted. He further argues that some youths are alarmed by the integration of “repentant” Boko Haram members into the military. Overall, he frames the refusal to enlist as a form of protest against an institution they mistrust.