The Njiko Igbo Forum, an affiliate of the prominent Igbo socio-cultural organization Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has issued a staggering demand for N100 trillion in compensation from the Nigerian government, citing decades of historical injustices suffered by the Igbo people since 1966.
The call by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo affiliate group, made public on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, has reignited discussions about Nigeria’s complex ethnic tensions and the lingering scars of the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War.
The demand by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo affiliate group, detailed in a statement released by Rev. Dr. Okechukwu Christopher Obioha, President of the Njiko Igbo Forum, accuses the Nigerian government of perpetuating “reckless abandon and ignominy” against the Igbo community for over 55 years.
The statement specifically references the period following the January 1966 coup, often referred to as the “Igbo coup,” and the subsequent anti-Igbo pogroms in northern Nigeria, which saw the massacre of thousands of Igbos and other southern Nigerians.
These events culminated in the declaration of the Republic of Biafra in 1967 and the devastating civil war that followed, lasting until 1970 and resulting in over one million deaths, primarily among the Igbo population.
“We, the Igbo, have been treated as second-class citizens in a nation we helped build,” Rev. Obioha stated.
“The Nigerian government must recognize our integral role in this country and provide adequate compensation for the loss of lives, destruction of infrastructure, and systemic marginalization we have endured since 1966.”
The demand for N100 trillion by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo affiliate group follows a similar but smaller request made just a day earlier by Ohanaeze Ndigbo, which called for N10 trillion in reparations and an apology from President Bola Tinubu’s administration for the civil war and ongoing injustices.
That statement, issued by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo affiliate group’s Deputy President General Okechukwu Isiguzoro, praised former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida for clarifying that the 1966 coup was not an “Igbo coup,” a narrative that has long fueled ethnic divisions in Nigeria.
Historical records, including academic studies and reports, provide context for the demand.
The 1966 anti-Igbo pogroms, triggered by the assassination of key northern political and military figures during the coup, led to widespread violence in northern Nigeria, with estimates suggesting between 8,000 and 30,000 Igbos and easterners were killed.
The subsequent civil war, described by scholars as a “black-on-black genocide,” saw federal forces battle Biafran secessionists, resulting in massive civilian casualties, starvation, and displacement, particularly among the Igbo population.
Njiko Igbo Forum’s statement urges members of the National Assembly from the South-East to sponsor a bill ensuring “adequate compensation” for the Igbo people, emphasizing the need for Nigeria to foster a sense of belonging and equality for all its citizens.
“It is time for Nigeria to turn a new page and address the deep-seated inequities that have marginalized Ndigbo for decades,” Rev. Obioha added.
The demand has already sparked mixed reactions on social media and among political analysts.
While some Nigerians, particularly from the South-East, have praised the call as a justified step toward reconciliation and justice, others, including northern and western leaders, have criticized it as divisive and economically unfeasible.
“N100 trillion is beyond Nigeria’s current financial capacity, and this could deepen ethnic tensions rather than heal them,” said political analyst Dr. Aminu Bello in an interview with a credible source.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo and its affiliates have long been vocal advocates for Igbo rights, frequently highlighting issues such as the closure of critical infrastructure like the Calabar seaport, underrepresentation in national politics, and the lack of federal investment in the South-East.
The organization’s recent statements reflect growing frustration with what they perceive as systemic neglect and discrimination.
As of Tuesday morning, the Nigerian government has yet to respond officially to the N100 trillion demand by Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
However, the issue is likely to dominate national discourse, especially as the country continues to grapple with economic challenges, security threats, and the quest for national unity.
This demand comes at a pivotal moment for Nigeria, as the nation marks nearly six decades since the events of 1966 and the civil war.
Whether the Nigerian government will engage in dialogue or dismiss the claim remains to be seen, but the call for reparations has undoubtedly reopened old wounds and reignited calls for justice and healing in Africa’s most populous nation.
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