The Igbo people in Nigeria: Jews of Africa - White House memo reveals

The Igbo people in Nigeria: Jews of Africa

In a White House memo dated Tuesday, January 28, 1969 to President Nixon, former Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger describes the Igbos as “the wandering Jews of West Africa-gifted, aggressive, westernized, at best envied and resented, but mostly despised by their neighbors in the federation”(foreign relations document, volume E-5, documents on Africa 1969-1972).

Biafra Survives: the Igbo people, 45 years after the War By Hank Pellissier

Biafra Survives: the Igbo people, 45 years after the Civil War By Hank Pellissier

The Biafra-Nigeria War from 1967-1970 resulted when the small West African region – primarily populated by the Igbo tribe – attempted to secede from Nigeria, a former British colony. An estimated 1-2 million people were killed in the conflict; 40% were Igbo children who died of starvation and malnutrition. The Igbo thought the global community would support them, but they gained little assistance, whereas Nigeria was massively armed by the British and Russians. Biafra was invaded and the Igbo were eventually subdued.

How are the Igbo doing today? Have they survived economically? Are they participating in Nigerian political affairs? Have enmities been forgiven?

Behold the Police Commissioner Folusho Adebanjo who asked Igbo-Speaking Biafrans to leave Edo State

The hate speech against Igbo-speaking Biafrans is intensifying in Nigeria. Amidst the genocidal threat of the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, the Edo State Police Commissioner. Folusho Adebanjo, recently classed the Igbo-speaking Biafrans alongside kidnappers and armed robbers. The Yoruba-born police chief stated that Kidnappers, armed robers and Igbo people should not come to Edo State.