By BONIFACE AKARAH

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has attributed the growing reluctance of youths from Nigeria’s Southeast to enlist in the armed forces and other security services to what it described as years of alleged human rights violations and discriminatory practices by state authorities.

In a statement issued Tuesday in Onitsha, the group said its findings—based on “monitored, tracked, collected, analysed and archived statistics”—identified eight major “atrocity-policies and conducts” dating back to 2015.

The development, it said, aligns with concerns raised by the Nigerian Army over low enlistment from the region.

“We wish to add that this is not the first time the authorities of the Nigerian Army have raised such concerns,” the group said in the statement signed by Emeka Umeagbalasi, Lead-Researcher/Head; Chidinma Udegbunam, Esquire, Head, Campaign and Publicity; Obianuju Joy Igboeli, Esquire, Head, Dept. of Civil Liberties and Rule of Law; and Comrade Chibueze Nwajiaku, Deputy Head, Dept. of Policing and Law Enforcement.

Intersociety noted that “out of 38,000 slots for the entire country, only 123 come from the South-East.”

The rights group said that the trend reflects a deep erosion of trust among parents, many of whom now discourage their children from joining security services.

“It is deeply regrettable and disappointing that the Nigerian Army has continued to pretend as if the reasons for this are far-fetched,” the statement said.

The group added that military and defence authorities are “substantially and inescapably responsible” for the situation.

Citing its findings, Intersociety alleged that thousands of young men in the region—particularly those aged between 18 and 40—have been victims of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and other abuses.

“Parents and legal guardians… have lost several thousands of their children… to killings outside the law and unchecked military conduct,” it said.

The group further claimed that some of the missing were last seen in the custody of security personnel.

“Cases of abductions and disappearances were… treated as ‘closed case’ and ‘a no go area’,” it added.

Intersociety also pointed to what it described as structural imbalances in security deployments, alleging that operations in the region have been influenced by ethnic profiling and biased intelligence.

“These conducts were… carried out in very despicable, hateful and discriminatory manners,” the statement said, citing “ethno-religious profiling, false labelling, and mass criminalisation.”

The organisation noted that multiple reports by local and international human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have documented similar concerns over the years.

However, it expressed concern that such reports have not led to meaningful redress.

“It is not only that they refused to act… they also massively deployed blackmail, lies, denials and propaganda,” the group alleged.

Intersociety warned that the continued perception of injustice could have long-term implications for national cohesion and security.

“The authorities… must frontally address them and restore the confidence and trust of the parents,” it said.

There was no immediate response from the Nigerian military authorities as of the time of filing this report.

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