“Njiko Igbo Forum Demands N100 Trillion Compensation for 55 Years of Injustice”

The Njiko Igbo Forum, an affiliate of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has called for a monumental compensation of N100 trillion from the Nigerian government for the injustices suffered by the Igbo people since 1966. This demand comes after the release of former military head of state General Ibrahim Babangida’s new book, A Journey in Service, in which he revealed that the 1966 coup, long believed to be an “Igbo coup,” was, in fact, orchestrated by a diverse group of officers, including Nigerians from various ethnic backgrounds.

In a statement issued on Monday, Rev. Dr. Okechukwu Christopher Obioha, President of the Njiko Igbo Forum, urged members of the National Assembly from the South-East to introduce a bill seeking adequate compensation for the Igbo people. The group argues that the Igbo have suffered severe marginalization, hate, and economic losses, which include the destruction of properties, businesses, and the loss of millions of lives during the Civil War.

Obioha’s statement cited new revelations from Babangida’s book and other testimonies that clarify the composition of the January 1966 coup’s leaders. He highlighted that the coup leaders included Kaduna Nzeogwu (Delta), Adewale Ademoyega (Yoruba), Capt. G. Adeleke (Yoruba), Lt. Fola Oyewole (Yoruba), Emmanuel Ifeajuna (Igbo), Lt. Tijani Katsina (Hausa), Capt. Gibson Jalo (Niger Delta), and Lt. O. Olafemiyan (Yoruba). The group revealed that the coup was intended to free Chief Obafemi Awolowo from prison and install him as Nigeria’s Prime Minister.

With these new facts, the Forum demanded a formal apology from Nigeria for the suffering of the Igbo people, as well as compensation for the countless lives lost and the continued subjugation of the Igbo community over the past 55 years. The Forum stressed that no compensation could truly match the scale of the lives lost, but it is a necessary step toward healing and reconciliation.

Additionally, the group called for an inquiry into the 2023 general election, urging the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, to come clean on the alleged discrepancies in the election process. They expressed disappointment over the election outcome, claiming that Peter Obi, the Labour Party candidate, was the true winner of the 2023 presidential election.

The Forum also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), whose activism, they claim, is a direct response to the injustices stemming from the Civil War and its lingering effects on the Igbo people.

In their statement, the group emphasized that for 55 years, the Igbo, as a major ethnic group in Nigeria, have been marginalized and treated with neglect. They called on the Nigerian government to recognize the Igbo as an integral part of the nation and grant them a rightful place in Nigeria’s future development.