The Ethiopian government has released 136 Nigerian prisoners, and the ethnic composition of the list is impossible to ignore. From the first name to the last, every single individual bears an Igbo name.
Here is the full list:
- Anazoba Linus Okigbo
- Ejike Cyril Edeme
- Charles Ofor Damijo
- Nnaemeka Charles Maduagwu
- Chukwudalu Clinton
- Eze Paul Oluchi
- Kingsley Ebuka Udeigbo
- Okoyeagu Kosisochukwu Leonard
- Ozoemena Christian Chukwuemeka
- Ifeanyi Joseph Izuaco
- Ephraim Chetachukwu Oneyanusi
- Segun Judge Hunkarin
- John Osahon
- Chinonso Sabastine Nwankwor
- Ani Christopher Sunday
- Kingsley Ikechukwu Nwoke
- Joakin Uchenna Nwanmeneme
- Chigozie Victor Madu
- Babatunde Moshood
- Cajethan Tochukwu Okafor
- John Obi Simon
- Charles Igwe
- Ubaka Walter Ezekwe
- Onwunali Promise
- Ogbonna Eric Buchi
- Chetachi James Uche
- Peter Imhanluobe
- Bobby Martins Chukwuemeka
- Ogu Promise Ifeanyi
- Emeka Okoye Chibuzor
- Sunday Edeh
- Obinna Joseph
- Anayo Eva Ejiofor
- Chinonso Basil
- Simon Chetachukwu Obed
- Samuel Arinze Ezemba
- Remigus Anikwe
- Christopher Hope Agboma
- Oliver Ifeanyi Nweke
- Nnayelu Obinna Onuchukwu
- Chibueze Casmir Nnabugwu
- Loyal Chuks Gabriel
- Chidi Johnson
- Celestine Arinze Anajemba
- Abraham Chizoba Bah
- Enwerem Wisdom Emeka
- Kingstar Onuoha Ndu
- Emeka Adolphus Dunofor
- Daniel Ibrahim
- Emmanuel Nnajekwu Onwuamaeze
- Ejimonu Justin Chibuzor
- Ugochukwu Okpara
- Ezeukwu Chizoba Christopher
- Onyebuchi Jude
- Izuchukwu Peter Uzoukwu
- Anayo Christopher Okari
- Felis Prosper Ejim
- Ifeanyi Timothy Nwaiwu
- Gideon Chukwuma Ikwedu
- Everest Aguguo
- John Uchechukwu Ugo
- Obiora Aloysus Nda
- Okonkwo Joshua Ikedichukwu
- Christopher Ndu A.
- Ezeugwu Johnson Ide
- Vincent Dike
- Amachi Okafor
- Michael Chibueze
- Chikezie Luis Okoye
- Eze Sunday Celestine
- Ekwutosi Basil Agomuo
- Pascal Ikenna Godwin Amanze
- Alexander Uzochukwu Azalangha
- Onuoha Joseph Arinze
- Oparango Chigozie Michael
- Patrick Tochukwu Amaobi
- Unachikwu Hossana Ugochukwu
- Enyeribe Mathew Odoemna
- Ugwu C. Michael
- Christian Odinaka Ofuefule
- Ajani Chikezie
- Okwudili John Ozongwu
- Uchegbu Chimeziri Maximus
- Vitus Ejike Eneh
- Godwin Onyemachi
- Nwosu Ifeanyi
- Chukwuagezie Clement
- Henry Nwabueze Ojukwu
- Igwilo Sunday Chukwuma
- Ezeakvalue Samson Chibuike
- Obinna Salvation
- Omoje Festus Ogiofor
- Basil Lawrence Ilobi
- Okafor Livinus Edochie
- Amaefuna Hunphrey Amechi
- Akwaeze Ndubisi Pritter
- Gabriel Odunukwe
- Okafor Chidiebere Franklin
- Godwin Chidebere Oragini
- Michael Ezekafor
- Nweke Kaodimma Francis
- Ononaju Onyeka Daniel
- Ndubisi Paul
- Kenenna Anthony
- Obiora Aloysus A.
- Binna Iwuoha Sampson
- Ikedigbo Ifeanyi Onyebuchi
- Stanley Jude Odoh
- Ezenwa Izuchukwu Kingsley
- Nnaike Ndubisi Batholomew
- Nnanna Theophilus Ezievuo
- Ekene Urama
- Ogwu Philip Ozoemene
- Nwaduba Ndubisi Samuel
- Ezeji Partric Uchechukwu
- Chukwunonso Henry Umuifekwen
- James Chukwujekwu Mmuozoba
- Joseph Emeka Okoye
- Hidozie Osita Sunday
- Damian Chijoke Agbasianya
- Damian Ifeanyi
- Franklin Chisom Amadi
- Okechukwu Mbaekwu
- Smith Denis
- Ifeanyichukwu Samuel
- Christhain Kenechi Ezenwa
- Chinedu Samuel Matthew
- Victor Kelechi Uwandu
- Emmanuel Aham
- Chimezie Victor Amasiani
- Chinedu Marcel Anyanwu
- Basil Akimbo Nnouseh
- Nwachukwu Paul Udechukwu
- Nonso Josiah Onyebuchi
- Udochukwu Anselem Anyanwu
Every single name on this list is Igbo. Not one Yoruba. Not one Hausa.
This is not a coincidence. This is a pattern. The question now is: when will Igbo leaders address the crisis of their people dominating international crime statistics? Or will they continue to blame marginalisation while their sons fill prisons across the globe?