A Historical Account Of Igbo-Phobia In Nigeria Since Amalgamation – A Proof That Ndi Ìgbò Are Disliked & Unwanted

When you look at the level of nepotism in Nigeria, and how Igbo-phobia has continued to rise, ever since the amalgamation of Nigeria, one is forced to wonder why Igbos are hated. For the young Igbo of this generation, who do not have knowledge of Nigeria’s history and the level of attacks the Igbo have suffered at the hands of other Nigerians, they are often left surprised as to why they are despised by others, even when they are open-hearted and contribute to the growth of their host communities.

In this article, we are going to try to pinpoint certain verses and characters in Nigeria’s history that recorded (or show) why Igbos are hated, and the cause for this hatred or Igbo phobia. But before we dive into it, let us first carve out a definition for Igbo-phobia.

Igbo-Phobia is simply the fear of the Igbo people/person. This fear in the Nigerian context stems from various attributes of the Igbo. But at the top of the list is the undisputable fact that the Igbo are very industrious, and are high achievers in whatever field of endeavor they find themselves. And since they are high achievers, they would most likely succeed better than the indigenes of whatever community they settle in. And as is common with human nature, success breeds envy. And in the Nigerian context, the Igbo man’s success is seen as an attempt to dominate or subdue others.

The Amalgamation Of Nigeria, The British Dislike Of The Igbo, And How It Transferred To Other Nigerians

From the inception and creation of the country called Nigeria, there has been a disposition of dislike for the Igbo. Many believe that this disdain for the Igbo was handed down from the British to the Northerners mainly. Or maybe this disdain for the Igbo was developed by the North, the West, and other parts of Nigeria because the Igbo were successful strangers in their host communities.

The British, being the architects of Nigeria, disliked the Igbo, because they were/are difficult to conquer or rule. The Igbo had a mind of their own and posed a great challenge to the colonialist government structure. The Igbo lived an individualistic and egalitarian life and did not have a central authority, through which the British could have ruled them.

The Ekumeku war of resistance against British rule that lasted for 30 years, and other wars from various parts of Igbo land to resist British invasion, was more reason why the British despised the Igbo. The difficulty of the Igbo drove the British to create more alliances with the Northern emirs, among other leaders of other ethnic nationalities in Nigeria.

So, at amalgamation, the favorites of the British were the Northerners, even though they had little resources to contribute to the creation and effective administration of the new nation called Nigeria. As the nation progressed after amalgamation and there was a movement of Southerners to the North, and Northerners to the South, the majority of the Southerners in the North were the Igbo.

The Aba women’s protest/War of 1929-1930 was another clear indication to the British that the Easterners (especially the Igbo) were not to be trusted or given certain opportunities. This period was also the time when Igbo workers started to migrate to the North, West, and Midwest to work in the rail lines, do business, and later become part of the civil service since the majority of the Igbo were educated. Between amalgamation (1914) and the 1950s, the population of the Igbo had grown extensively in the North and Western parts of Nigeria. They were also very successful in their businesses, crafts, and duties in the civil government.

This build-up led to the popular sentiment of Igbo domination in Nigeria, but especially in the North where the Igbo were never fully welcomed and were made to live in secluded areas called ‘Sabon gari’. The ‘Igbo domination’ mantra led to the popular statement by Sir Ahmadu Bello (the then Premier of The North). In an interview with a European correspondence from the international press, when asked why the North was so obsessed about their counterparts from the East, the Igbo, He made the following remarks:

“Well, the Igbos are more or less the type of people whose desire is mainly to dominate everybody. If they go to a village or a town, they want to monopolize everything in that area. If you put them in a labor camp as a laborer, with a year they will try to emerge as headman of that camp and so on.”

The Igbo domination mantra and general dislike for the Igbo, whom the British and everyone else felt were too loud and proud, somewhat became a uniting factor in pre-independence Nigeria, and post-independence Nigeria, among the various ethnic nationalities in Nigeria; But more potent in the North.

One of the results of the pre-independence pieces of evidence of why Igbos are hated in Nigeria was the Jos riots of 1945 and the killing of Ndi Igbo, which was a result of increased tension between the Northerners and the Easterners – a product of the Igbo domination and encroachment sentiment in the North.

Another was the massacre of Igbo cold miners in Enugwu on 18th November 1949, by Northern soldiers, under the command of British officers. 21 Igbo men were shot dead, while 51 others sustained injuries.

The next time the Igbo were killed in Nigeria was in 1953 in Kano. For no fault of theirs, but only being present in a great number in Kano, the Northern mob invaded Sabon Gari and slaughtered Ndi Igbo, and destroyed their properties. This particular violence and massacre of the Easterners were planned and coordinated by Mallam Inua Wada of the Northern People’s Congress {N.P.C} – a political party that evolved from the Native Authority Administration.

His reason for unleashing local government security officials and the mob on the Easterners, was because Chief S. L. Akintola’s Action Group Party booed and abused the Northern members of the NPC in Lagos, and Akintola was planning to come to Kano. Mallam Inua Wada and his people wanted to revenge against the Yoruba but somehow ended up killing Igbo people who had nothing to do with the differences between the NPC and Action group, who never showed up in Kano. This also is another evidence of why Igbos are hated in Nigeria. Because if not for sheer hate and disdain, why would the northern mob organize to harass Chief S. L. Akintola and his people, turn on the Igbo, kill them, and destroy properties?

The hostilities against the Igbo in Nigeria would continue till after independence. The 1966 coup of January 15 led by Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu was the perfect ignition to the time bomb that had been ticking in Nigeria. The coup was an excuse to unleash genocide against the Igbo, and by 1971, the genocide which lasted 4 years, had taken more than 3 million Igbo lives. The first year, 1966, saw over 100,000 Igbo being killed in various pogroms in the North, while 1967 to 1971 saw millions killed in the Biafran war. In the 3-4 years of the war, history saw the whole of Nigeria (Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, Tiv, Idoma, Bini, etc.) turn against the Igbo and attempted to wipe them from the face of the earth, in what would is described as an African Holocaust.

After the war, which was fought to stop the Igbo from leaving the Nigerian State, the Igbo who wanted their nation were forced to return to the Federation but were never fully welcomed back into the nation. What they faced after the war was economic ostracization, political marginalization, and social bullying. This marginalization which is a precipitate of the Igbo-Phobia in Nigeria is still present to date.

30 Mass Killings From 1945 Till Date That Proves Igbo-Phobia And Why Ndi Igbo Are Hated

It is very easy for an average non-Igbo Nigerian to say that the Igbo are not hated in Nigeria and that their cry of marginalization and suppression is simply a “Victimhood mentality”. The truth is that whoever is of that opinion is outright dubious and hates to hear the truth. There are over 100 years of evidence to prove that the Igbo are hated In Nigeria, and are only being tolerated in most cases. A clear example is the number of times the Igbo have been attacked and killed in various unprovoked uprisings by Northern mobs (often called Riots) in Nigeria. To buttress these facts, below we have listed how chronologically the number of times the Igbo have been targeted and massacred in Nigeria’s history. After you read them, then use your tongue to count your teeth and tell us if the Igbo are loved and appreciated in Nigeria. 

The list is as follows:

1. The Jos killing of Igbo In 1945
2. The Kano Killings of Ndi Igbo in 1953
3. The 1966 pogroms: over 100,000 civilians were killed (Many say the numbers are beyond 200,000)
4. The Biafran War of Survival of 1967-70: over 3,100,0000 Igbo were killed during the bloody civil war (Including the Asaba Genocide).
5. Kano Killings Of 1980
6. Maiduguri Killings Of 1982
7. Jimeta Killings Of 1984
8. Gombe Killings Of 1985
9. Zaria Killings Of 1987
10. Kaduna & Kafanchan Killings Of 1991
11. Bauchi & Katsina Killings Of 1991
12. Kano Killings Of 1991
13. Zangon-Kataf Killings Of 1992
14. Funtua Killings Of 1993
15. Kano Killings Of 1994
16. Kaduna Killings Of 2000
17. Kaduna Killings Of 2001
18. Maiduguri Killings Of 2001
19. Jos Maiden Crisis and Killings Of September 2001
20. Kaduna Killings Of 2002
21. Jos Killings Of November 2008
22. Beheading of Gideon Akaluka in December of 1996 in a POLICE STATION in Kano
23. Igbo Driver Nicknamed ‘Saint Moritz’ Killed On 13th December 2001, For Mistakenly Driving His Truck Over a Koran
24. Post-April 2011 Presidential Election: 10 Youth-Corps Men & Women and Numerous Igbo Citizens Murdered Because a Christian Southerner Was Elected as President
25. Jos Christmas Eve Killings of 2010
26. Madalla Christmas day Bombing Of 2011
27. Mubi Killings of January 6, 2012
28. The many Igbo deaths that were caused by Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen (which of course has the full backing of the northern elites).
29. Thousands of Igbo men and women who have been murdered extrajudicially by the Nigerian armed forces for demanding equity for Ndi Igbo through Biafra.
30. And many more we can lay our hands at the point of writing this piece.

This is but a glimpse of what the Igbo suffers in Nigeria. And when we speak up against this injustice, our detractors (and confused brethren) accuse us of playing the victim.

What crime has the Igbo committed that has called for the continuous letting of their blood, from way before independence, and the supposed Igbo Coup of 1966?

The answer you give yourself as to why Igbos are hated is dependent on the amount of truth and lies/propaganda you have been fed with. But whatever it is you tell yourself; we will not stop stating the fact that we are not treated with love and respect in Nigeria, despite all our contributions to the emancipation and growth of the nation for over 100 years.

The Igbo Success In Business And Education As The Reason Why Ndi Igbo Are Hated

The Igbo are known around the world as a people who are grounded in business, industry, and commerce and have one of the highest education indexes in Nigeria and Africa at large. Having an individualistic approach to life and achievements, the last 100 years have seen the Igbo surpass their neighbors in ‘collective’ economic might. From amalgamation till 1966, the Igbo left their homes in the hinterlands of the East and established themselves all over Nigeria, each man striving hard to become a master in his business or job. This led to the collective Nigerian sentiment that the Igbo were domineering. When in fact, all they cared about was success – heights they and their family could be proud of.

It was reported that the Eastern region of Nigeria was the fastest-growing economy in the world around the 1950s and 1960s. Unfortunately, this growth was stunted by the Biafran war which led to a near-total destruction of the Igbo economy and livelihood. But as providence would have it, the Igbo have built back their economic power and are now one of the backbones of Nigeria’s commerce, despite the continuous attack with unfriendly policies by the Federal government of Nigeria.

Today, without any significant government help, the Igbo control all major markets in Nigeria, ranging from the importation of building materials, kitchen utensils, electronics, phones and gadgets, clothing, plastics, and wares, motor, and machine spare parts, among many other businesses that drive Nigeria’s business industry. They are also involved in the manufacturing of some of these goods, even though the economy and accessibility to FX for raw materials stifle business.

It is a general sentiment that a man who is well-to-do (or has achieved success for himself) is often envied by those who don’t have. We see this play out in the day-to-day lives of humans, as there is a permanent antagonism for the haves by the have-nots. There is a deep-seated dislike for those who seem to have some form of financial success, by those who don’t. This is the tragedy of life, and this is the bane of the dislike for the Igbo – a dislike blamed on their supposed arrogance – an arrogance derived from their financial success. But in reality and truth, the Igbo man has not achieved this success on a platter. If there is any ethnic nationality that has labored well enough for the success they now enjoy today, it is the Igbo. A people who rose from 20 Pounds after the war, to owning real estate and businesses all over Nigeria, and beyond. If at all, other ethnic groups should learn from the Igbo, the blueprint of their success, instead of hating the Igbo for that success.

Now, if I asked you the unbiased reader why Igbos are hated for their business success, would you say I was making a wrong claim, or would you agree that there is an obvious political and social gang up against the Igbo for their business prowess in Nigeria?

I will leave you with a clue of the gang-up I speak of. And that is the burning and destruction of Igbo business, both in the North and the West of Nigeria, at any slightest provocation. As of 2022 when this article was written, there have been several incidents of looting, destruction, and burning of Igbo businesses in Nigeria. Some examples are the as follows: The burning and destruction of Igbo shops in Sokoto following the killing of Deborah Samuel (a Norther Christian) in May of 2022; The destruction of over 500 shops belonging to Igbo people in Egbara, Jakande along Lekki Epe Expressway by Lagos State Government; The burning of Igbo business and destruction of property worth over a Billion naira, and killing 5 people, on the 18th of May 2022, in Dei-Dei, Abuja.

No matter what the disagreement or issue was, the first point of the call is to destroy Igbo businesses. And we have seen this happen all over Nigeria for far too long. This begs the question: Why do Nigerians have a penchant for destroying Igbo businesses?

Your guess is as good as mine.

The Pride Of The Igbo In Their Achievements As The Reason Why Ndi Igbo Are Hated

Just like every great people around the world, the Igbo are a hardworking race and take great pride in their life’s achievements. This genuine pride is what many Nigerians perceive as ‘arrogance’, and in turn persecutes the Igbo over. The United States Of America for instance prides itself as the greatest democracy and most successful nation in the world. They portray their achievements and prowess in movies, songs, and their pronouncement on every world stage or event. No one sees this arrogance. No one loathes the U.S.A or tags them ‘self-conceited’ or ‘pompous.’ Instead, people from around the world strive to become American citizens.

This is not the case for Ndi Igbo.  In an ever-suppressive nation, they are expected to hide their achievements, ingenuity, and contributions to the growth of humanity, “tuck their tales in between their legs” and present themselves as “inferior animals” to be accepted as good Nigerians. Or possibly remain in their villages and wear sackcloths, and use stones to light fires, so that other ethnic nationalities would feel comfortable in their laziness. Of course, that can never happen. That is not the way Ndi Igbo are wired.

For those who hate Ndi Igbo and accuse them of being pompous, please understand that the Igbo man is built on an egalitarian foundation – a blueprint that demands that he succeeds on his own at all costs. This means that he worships no man. He believes strongly in his Chi (his life force) and knows deep down that it is only his Chi that has the power to pull him down – it is only his Chi he can bow to.

This basic principle is evident in the fact that we do not have Monarchs in ani Igbo who dictate the destinies and lives of their ‘subjects’. The Igbo have no kings or rulers who decide for the entire people. The Umunna (parliamentary kind of government) which every Igbo clan has/operates makes Ndi Igbo a republican people, and as such, every man’s opinion counts in the decisions that might make or mar the future of himself and his family. With such a background, it is difficult to find an Igbo man who does not walk tall and proud – it is a trait embedded in our genes – a trait that our unborn children already carry from the realms of our ancestors (Ndi Ichie).

If this trait is the major reason why Igbos are hated, then it is useless wanting the same country with such a people, because at every point our boldness and inability to bow before men timidly will come off as being arrogant or pompous, even when we don’t intend to.

My advice is that Nigerians (as well as other world people) understand why Ndi Igbo are the way they are and that our boldness is not an attempt to bully our neighbors, but only a defense mechanism to shield our destinies against failure, hence we let our individual Chi and our ancestors down.

Conclusion

This article was inspired by the high volume of queries we received concerning “why the Igbos are hated”.  The frequency and rise of this particular question left me alarmed. Not because I do not know that Ndi Igbo are hated in Nigeria, but because now more than ever, that hared seems to have been felt or witnessed by a young generation of Ndi Igbo – a generation who have been hit with a rude shock of the level of Igbo-phobia they see around them (in real life and on social media) – a generation with no knowledge of Nigeria’s nepotistic history, and more so over 100 years of prejudice against Ndi Igbo being what units other ethnicities in Nigeria.

Now I must do my best to present the facts from an Igbo perspective to them, and in doing so, hope that it does not drive them to hate people of other tribes. For anger and hate leads us all to doom. Also, this piece is to spur inquiries from other ethnic nationalities to understand the “Igbo problem” that Nigeria has, and hope that this piece will be a starting point to the question they have, which is “Why are Igbos Hated”.

Dear reader, please note that the term IGBOS is wrong, and was used in this article for context’s sake as regards the queries we got. The correct terms are “The Igbo, Ndi Igbo, and Igbo People”.

You Can Watch A Detailed Documentary Of The Topic HERE

This Article Was Written By Chuka Nduneseokwu, Editor-In-Chief, of Voice Of The Sun

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