Nigeria: The Igbo (Ibo) people; any links between them and the Ogoni community; their presence in Abia State

There are various estimates of the size of the Igbo population: 13 million according to a 1991 census (Reuters 12 Jan. 1995), 23 million (The Toronto Star 27 May 1991), and 30 million according to a Website of the Igbo people (n.d.). The Igbo are one of the four largest tribes in Nigeria and are dominant in eastern Nigeria (World Directory of Minorities 1990, 444-445), including a concentration in Abia State (Columbia University 4 Jan. 1999).

During the Biafran war of secession Ogoniland was occupied by Igbo military forces (World Directory of Minorities 1990, 446; The Independent 12 Nov. 1995). Theweek noted that for the Igbo:

the mishandling of the Biafra project has thrown an intimidating wedge between them and other people of the former Eastern region, thus making nonsense of efforts to forge an Eastern unity.... From Efik to Ibibio and Ogoni, the tendency has been for the Eastern minorities to hold the Igbo collectively responsible for their woes, arguing that they were forced against their will to be part of an unviable Biafra venture. (27 Jan. 1997)

During separate telephone interviews, both the Human Rights Coordinator of The Africa Fund, and the President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) USA, stated that at the time of the Biafran war the Igbo wanted access to the oil that was present on Ogoni lands (23 Dec. 1998; 30 Dec. 1998). They also said that the Igbo secession initiative involved bringing minorities, including the Ogoni, unwillingly into the dispute with the federal government (ibid.). According to The Independent: "It was an experience that convinced many Ogonis that without political reform, the big three ethnic groups which dominate Nigeria would exploit minority groups such as the Ogonis" (12 Nov. 1995). However, according to the President of MOSOP USA, there is no resentment of Ogoni people toward the Igbo but rather, if there are such feelings, they are on the part of the Igbo for the lack of support the Ogoni gave to secession (30 Dec. 1998). Nonetheless, HRW states that Ogoni "grievances are directed not only against the current federal military government but also against their larger neighbours, notably the Igbo. It is perhaps no coincidence that the Ogonis' most notable leader, Ken Saro-Wiwa, was a Federal Government official during the Biafran secession" (Feb. 1996). A Visiting Scholar at Columbia University noted that at the time of the war, Ken Saro-Wiwa sided with the federal government on the Igbo's bid for independence (4 Jan. 1999).

The President of MOSOP USA stated that in general the Igbo "could care less about the Ogoni" since they have their own set of problems, but that those Igbo present in the Niger delta would be supportive of the Ogoni people since both groups face similar problems with the environment and the federal government (30 Dec. 1998).

There are several reports of Igbo under-representation in the Nigerian army. Theweek states that after the Biafran War Igbo were denied recruitment into the armed forces (8 Sept. 1997). In 1995, a spokesperson for Igbo delegates to Nigeria's constitutional conference claimed that Igbos suffered discrimination and cited, as an example, the lack of Igbos among recent military appointments to the rank of general (Reuters 12 Jan. 1995). In July 1998, according to The Guardian, "the Ohaneze, the apex decision making body for the Igbo cried out over the alleged marginalisation of the Igbo in military appointments and reports of a possible Igbo boycott of the current transition programme" (20 July 1998).

On 8 August 1998 the Panafrican News Agency reported the formation of a new political party, the People's Democratic Congress. The launching was announced by Emeka Ojukwu, leader of the Biafran secession movement although Ojukwu stated that he would not be a candidate for president (ibid.). However, the new party was not recognized by the Independent Electoral Commission (ibid., 22 Oct. 1998). Recognition as a party requires a party to have "functional offices in 24 of the 36 federal states," but Ojukwu "alleged that his association was denied registration because a section of the country's military had not accepted the pardon granted him in 1982 by the government of civilian president Shehu Shagari" (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

The Africa Fund, New York. 23 December 1998. Telephone interview with the Human Rights Coordinator.

Columbia University, New York, The Institute of African Studies. 4 January 1999. Telephone interview with Visiting Scholar from the University of Lagos.

The Guardian [Lagos]. 20 July 1998. Sunny Igboanugo. "Nigeria - Rights Coalition Calls for Restructured Federation." (FBIS-AFR-98-204 23 July 1998/WNC)

Human Rights Watch (HRW). February 1996. Nigeria: On the Brink of Civil War? (REFWORLD)

The Independent [London]. 12 November 1995. Karl Maier. "Bitter End to Ogoni Struggle; Death in Nigeria." (NEXIS)

Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), USA. 30 December 1998. Telephone interview with the President.

Panafrican News Agency (PANA). 22 October 1998. "Nigeria; Unregistered Political Associations Cry Foul." (Africa News /NEXIS)

_____. 8 August 1998. Paul Ejime. "Nigeria; Ojukwu Forms Political Party." (Africa News /NEXIS)

Reuters. 12 January 1995. BC Cycle. "Igbo Leaders Allege Persecution in Nigeria." (NEXIS)

The Toronto Star. 27 May 1991. Joe Serge. "Biafra a Painful Lesson in Disunity." (NEXIS)

The Virtual Igbo Homesite. n.d. [Internet] [Accessed 21 Dec. 1998]

Theweek. 8 September 1997. Saidu Dogo. "Army is Unfari to Christians." (Ethnic NewsWatchNEXIS)

_____. 27 January 1997. Isaac Umunna. "From the Editor." (NEXIS)

World Directory of Minorities. 1997. Harlow, Essex: Longman Group UK.