By Edoziuno Chukwunonso
The recent protests in Kano State, Northern Nigeria, have taken an unexpected and alarming turn, with demonstrators raising Russian flags as they stormed the streets to voice their frustrations. While this act of symbolism raises profound questions about Nigeria’s unity and the potential for external influences, it has also been accompanied by a troubling resurgence of ethnic profiling against the Igbo nation. This scapegoating is reminiscent of the false accusations that the 1966 Nigerian coup d’état was an “Igbo coup,” a narrative that led to the pogrom claiming over 30,000 Igbo lives in Northern Nigeria and, subsequently, the deaths of over 3.5 million Igbo people during the 1967-70 Biafra/Nigeria civil war.
The Russian Flag: A Symbol of Frustration and Discontent
The sight of Russian flags in the hands of protesters is a stark representation of the deep dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs in Nigeria. With food inflation soaring to an unprecedented 40.87%—the highest since independence in 1960—Nigerians, especially in the North, are feeling the acute pressure of economic collapse. The crisis has led to widespread hunger and hardship, leaving many disillusioned with the government’s response.
The protests in Kano are part of a broader resurgence of the #EndBadGovernance movement, which has seen large numbers of Nigerians taking to the streets to demand better governance and relief from economic pressures. Despite government efforts to suppress these demonstrations, including subtle threats against participants, the protests have persisted, showing the determination and resolve of the people.
However, amidst these protests, there has been a troubling trend of ethnic profiling, particularly targeting the Igbo nation. Online platforms have seen the rise of hashtags like “Igbo Must Go” and inflammatory posts from social media accounts such as ‘Lagospedia’ on X (formerly Twitter), falsely accusing Igbos of orchestrating the ongoing national unrest. This is eerily reminiscent of the narrative that painted the 1966 coup d’état as an “Igbo coup,” a dangerous falsehood that led to the massacre of over 30,000 Igbos in Northern Nigeria and paved the way for the devastating Biafra/Nigeria civil war, which claimed the lives of over 3.5 million Igbo people.
We, the Igbo-Biafra Nationalists Movement (IBN) and the Indigenous People of Igbo Nation for Self-determination (IPINS), have expressed our serious disappointment and outrage over these hate-filled attacks. This ongoing scapegoating of Igbos is not just a matter of online discourse—it is a chilling reminder of the ethnic tensions that have plagued Nigeria’s history and a dangerous precedent that threatens to ignite old wounds.
We have demanded that the Nigerian security agencies act swiftly and decisively to bring to book the purveyors of these hate speeches, in line with the Cybercrimes Act and the country’s criminal laws. However, there has been a disturbing lack of serious action against these individuals, which we find deeply offensive and unacceptable. The Nigerian state must stop toying with our consciences. Mere political statements aimed at making this call for violence against our people disappear are not enough. Those responsible for these hate crimes must be arrested and made to face the law. Failure to do so only further proves Nigeria’s lawlessness and complicity in this wickedness.
Ndigbo are not slaves in Nigeria, nor are we a conquered people. We defended ourselves during the last genocide, and we survived. We, the Igbo-Biafra Nationalists Movement (IBN) and the Indigenous People of Igbo Nation for Self-determination (IPINS), cannot allow the Nigerian government’s criminal silence on these sensitive matters, which seem intent on exterminating Igbo-Biafra, to diminish the magnitude of this threat born out of sheer hatred.
In light of these developments, it is clear that Nigeria must urgently revisit the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference. This conference, which was a significant attempt to address the structural imbalances within the country, produced a set of resolutions aimed at decentralizing power and returning to a system of regional governance.
The Igbo-Biafra Nationalists Movement (IBN) and the Indigenous People of Igbo Nation for Self-determination strongly advocate for the implementation of these resolutions. Under such a framework, Alaigbo, otherwise called Igbo-Biafra, would have full control over its resources and governance, similar to other regions like Arewa, Oduduwa, and the Niger-Delta. This decentralization would not only address the grievances of the various regions but also strengthen the unity of Nigeria by giving each region the autonomy to manage its affairs.
