In the sweltering heat of a serial lynching and killing of Igbo citizens in Asia in 2013, I wrote an article entitled, ‘The Igbo fallacy’. In it, I appealed to the Igbo to de-emphasise the culture of profligacy, decadent opulence, debauchery and vanity which fuels the pursuit of crime by their own.


I am compelled to revivify the article here, but with a few adjustments. I say it again; the Igbo take the inglorious front row in certain crimes – drug peddling, armed robbery and kidnapping – at home and abroad.

In August 2016, an Igbo drug dealer was guillotined in Indonesia. But his funeral in Anambra was a shin-dig of celebrations. He was even described as a “hero” by his kinsmen.

Once again, an Igbo kidnapping lord, who unleashed barbarity and savagery on many Nigerians, has steadied attention on the “special” crime proclivities of the ethnic group. I will not dwell on this; I will zero in on Igbo criminality abroad, and take a slight detour home.


As a matter of fact, a good number of Igbo youth in Asia are into crime. It was reported sometime in the year that the India police said all Nigerians – Igbo, of course – in their country were drug dealers. Although, this is questionable, it cannot be entirely repudiated.

Arguably, the reason for Igbo sojourning – to even the remotest of places in the world – has been attributed to their much vaunted entrepreneurial spirit. The truth is that this claim is enclosed in heavy, meaty layers of fallacy like the entrails of burger.

Inasmuch as the “entrepreneurial sojourning” thread cannot be utterly pooh-poohed, it is judicious to explore other reasons why the Igbo are peripatetic. First, in Igbo ethology, it is a cringing evil for a native, man or woman, to commit a “stigmatised” crime (Alu) such as armed robbery, drug-dealing, etc at home. This is not an obviation of abhorrent crimes committed at home by some unabashed Igbo criminals. The truth is, the “home” Igbo criminals are a hopeless and shameless horde whose self esteem and sense of shame are terribly at their nadir, and as a result purvey crimes at home. Inter alia, for any stigmatised crime committed at home (Igbo land) there is a stern reprimand implicit in the cleansing of the crime. The sacerdotal process of cleansing the land of a crime or an abomination is called “Ikpu Alu”. However, “Ikpu Alu” (cleansing of abominations) does not extend to crimes committed by Igbo sons and daughters in places outside the native dome. It is therefore not surprising if some Igbo persons commit heinous crimes in obverse places, and come back home to take chieftaincy titles. As a matter of fact, in some morally weak Igbo communities it is a brave thing to traffic in drugs abroad. Drug barons are gleefully celebrated as Ndi kara Obi (lion-hearted people). Such is the pantomime of the Igbo and crimes.


It is therefore indubitable to posit that an unenviable number of Igbo persons with innate criminal manuals travel outside the Igbo enclave to pursue crimes. This confutes the general idea that the sojourning of the Igbo is driven solely by entrepreneurial inclinations and motives. To a large extent, the sojourning of some Igbo is driven by a morbid aim of shielding their evil trades from the peering eyes of their kinsmen. Their names are protected as long as they do not traffic in crimes at home. The important thing is to be successful in crimes abroad; successful enough to build vulgar mansions at home and throw lazy cash about.

To animate my argument further, what is the entrepreneurial inclination or motive of the Igbo in India, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, South Africa, and other countries peddling drugs? Is the entrepreneurial spirit of the Igbo only awakened abroad? Why should the Igbo entrepreneurial spirit find its host cozily and lopsidedly outside Igbo land? Is there a marriage between Igbo criminality across the world and Igbo entrepreneurial genome? These are questions that defeat the long, tired argument of Igbo entrepreneurial “peripatetism.”

The fact is the “entrepreneurial” beat-up logic and reason for Igbo sojourning is a bored excuse.

Analogously, Igbo sojourning atavism is also effectuated by pride, ego and vanity. A typical Igbo person will want to prove he is successful in anyway. It is wickedly mortifying to be seen as struggling in Igbo land. This underscores the reason many Igbo persons smuggle themselves out of Nigeria, and because it is thought that any person in Obodo Oyibo (white man’s country) or even anywhere outside Igbo land is “doing well”. Those Igbo persons who are “cursed” to be in Igbo land are seen as struggling and as such do not deserve the courtesy of admiration and respect. It is a proud thing for an Igbo father to say, “All my children are in the abroad”; even though “the abroad” is Gabon. Such a father courts the respect, envy and admiration of other fathers in Igbo land. This is the awful linkage between Igbo sojourning and base vanity.

In all, there are Igbo persons in the scrawny good number whose sojourn in foreign countries is not tainted by any evil intent or base vanity, but it is a bleeding fact that the singular Igbo entrepreneurial logic for sojourning is one big smorgasbord of fallacy.




Twitter: FredrickNwabufo, Facebook: Fredrick Nwabufo

https://www.thecable.ng/igbo-crime-culture/amp

Hmm!

No be small matter...

Fredrick nwabufor celebrates looters like uba, kalu, orjis, ohakim, etc but is against drug dealers. In china looters and drug dealers are treated the same. The hangman.

Land of trillionaires.

Fredrick..fredrick..fredrick,...how many times did i call you ?.

Fredrick..fredrick..fredrick,...how many times did i call you ?. sophistry and falsehood are two different things, your obsession with igbos matters is legendary.

Conrod:
Fredrick..fredrick..fredrick,...how many times did i call you ?. sophistry and falsehood are two different things, your obsession with igbos matters is legendary.

He is lgbo so has to be obsessed with lgbo matters. The sad thing about nwabufo is that he suffers from inferiority complex and craves acceptance from other ethnic groups. Imagine wat those he seeks acceptance from would be saying at his back. They will say tins like foolish lgbo man, lgbo man can sell his people for moneh etc

Who gives birth to these fools. What the hell is this rubbish.

This trash isn't worth my time,honestly. Our enterprenual stories has been well researched and known across the globe. Igbo youths wake up and show up for hustle every morning in all manner of conditions across many markets, offices, factories, SMEs across the length and breath of Nigeria, Africa and the world. The successful igbaboy/apprenticeship system is a testament of the Igbo youths desire to make it legimately over the years.

Millions of igbos youths work their back off everyday at Ariaria,and many markets across Aba even Onitsha producing and exporting shoes, clothings and so many unbelievable products for sale under unimaginable conditions. Many are in Nnewi producing all kinds of motorcycle spare parts selling and distributing all over the nation and parts of Africa. There is a reason Aba and Onitsha are competing for the SME capital of Nigeria. Igbo youths started 80% of the building material and spareparts markets across Nigeria and Africa from the scratch. Markets which have become igr spinners for the places where they did these magic.

Are there Igbo youths that do not want to succeed the hard way? Yes. What is their percentage compared to the ones willing to go through the agelong Igbo culture of excellence, dignity of labour and entrepreneurship? 3% is more than a generous figure one can concede.


I don't have any problem with anyone trying to write the truth about the lifestyle of a few youths of Igbo extraction. But when your headline screams " CRIME CULTURE AMONG IGBO YOUTHS" , then you are a fool with an agenda of tarnishing the image of a hardworking population.

As for the Yorubas jumping up and down on this thread making fools of themselves. Your Lagos Ibadan media has tried this for years without success. This single story of the Igbo that you guys has pursued for years has always met a deaf audience worldwide because our many stories preceeded your infantile jealousy induced attempt at blackmail. Right from colonial days our stories have been told and retold by people who knows the art of story telling. The Igbo story is a well known story.

Fredrick Madufo just like Joe Igbokwe is suffering the effect of long years of exposure to subtle jabs and hate from igbophobic elements whom they chose as friends. Not everyone has the mental strenght to withstand constant undermining by friends who dislike your tribe but claim to love you. For you to stay long in their circle you must pick up at a point this self cruxification attitude in order to "Belong". It is a cross we have to bear as itinerant people who raise their kids in all manner of culturally toxic environment.

Another Joe Igbokwe sighted.

Watch as igbo people on Nairaland will decend on this man.

Igbos see anything that will bring money as legitimate. Stealing, looting, kidnapping, lies, scam, yahoo etc. They are happy as long as they make money, it doesnt matter how even sacrificing family members for rituals.

gwafaeziokwu:
Who gives birth to these fools. What the hell is this rubbish.

Lols una don arrive.

U no de go shop today

Anyway truth hurts

But that shouldn't stop him from exposing the truth like he did here. I wonder why every Igbo commenting here ain't worried about the truth as exposed but rather talking about the man n his friends opinion. Do Igbos celebrate n gift
titles to criminals who pepetrate their crime abroad. Why not talk in that to show you have small shame.

History555:


He is lgbo so has to be obsessed with lgbo matters. The sad thing about nwabufo is that he suffers from inferiority complex and craves acceptance from other ethnic groups. Imagine wat those he seeks acceptance from would be saying at his back. They will say tins like foolish lgbo man, lgbo man can sell his people for moneh etc

Conrod:
Fredrick..fredrick..fredrick,...how many times did i call you ?. sophistry and falsehood are two different things, your obsession with igbos matters is legendary.

I am pure Igbo.. Ka anyị gwakene onwe anyị ezi okwu... The man is also igbo and he said the truth... In my place in Anambra I have seen a lot of young men in prison in Asia due to Ego mbute mentality... The man is saying the truth... We Igbo do drugs alot We are the Columbiana of Nigeria

The yoruba are known for scams and frauds with rituals

Hausa fulani Are known for corruption, nepotism, and terrible management of resources with islamism

Igbo are know high penchant to look for money like doing drugs and adulteration

The edos are known for oversea prostitution and human trafficking

Ijaws are known for rascality, and militancy

So it is a division of the labor

In all these there are exceptions

IkpuMmadu:


I am pure Igbo.. Ka anyị gwakene onwe anyị ezi okwu... The man is also igbo and he said the truth... In my place in Anambra I have seen a lot of young men in prison in Asia due to Ego mbute mentality... The man is saying the truth... We Igbo do drugs alot We are the Columbiana of Nigeria

The yoruba are known for scams and frauds with rituals

Hausa fulani Are known for corruption, nepotism, and terrible management of resources with islamism

Igbo are know high penchant to look for money like doing drugs and adulteration

The edos are known for oversea prostitution and human trafficking

Ijaws are known for rascality, and militancy

So it is a division of the labor

In all these there are exceptions

in your own little mind, because he said some things that correlate with your thought means he is saying the truth? Why is he stereotyping the entire ethnic group because of the crime of few? Iweala is an igbowoman,maybe she does drugs as well, same with chimanmanda and rest .how come we have not read positive articles of this man about the igbos? If only a yuroba writer will blame the entire tribe over fruadulent activities perpetrated by few people from the region. Make una try get sense,that one bears same name with you does not make him a brother.

Joe igbokwe is a living witness.

Advocate500:
in your own little mind, because he said some things that correlate with your thought means he is saying the truth? Why is he stereotyping the entire ethnic group because of the crime of few? Iweala is an igbowoman,maybe she does drugs as well, same with chimanmanda and rest .how come we have not read positive articles of this man about the igbos? If only a yuroba writer will blame the entire tribe over fruadulent activities perpetrated by few people from the region. Make una try get sense,that one bears same name with you does not make him a brother.

Joe igbokwe is a living witness.

But the highest numbers of African drug sellers worldwide are from South east Nigeria. Instead of worrying about that, you dey call ngozi okonjo. Even fulani wey get bandits get professors and UN top level officials.

nothingspoil70:
Watch as igbo people on Nairaland will decend on this man.

He's your hero, worship him!

seunolu7:


But the highest numbers of African drug sellers worldwide are from South east Nigeria. Instead of worrying about that, you dey call ngozi okonjo. Even fulani wey get bandits get professors and UN top level officials.

oga the highest fraudsters both home and abroad are from the south west, does that make the people of yuroba fraudsters?

seunolu7:


But the highest numbers of African drug sellers worldwide are from South east Nigeria. Instead of worrying about that, you dey call ngozi okonjo. Even fulani wey get bandits get professors and UN top level officials.

The highest number of skullminers in Africa are yorubas. Instead of worrying about that, you are here abusing Igbos who are supplying you hard drugs to quicken your journey

Advocate500:
oga the highest fraudsters both home and abroad are from the south west, does that make the people of yuroba fraudsters?

You people don't like the truth. Yahoo yahoo is the same level across the west, East and South South. We've seen videos of benin boys spraying money, many arrested yahoo boys in the sw are igbos. Check abuja too. And even if yahoo is bad, it doesn't destroy communities. See how you're flogging people for using mkpuru. Yet nobody has ever flogged yahoo boy. And still, nobody sells that mkpuru to outsiders more than eboes. That's evil.

BeardedMeat:
The highest number of skullminers in Africa are yorubas. Instead of worrying about that, you are here abusing Igbos who are supplying you hard drugs to quicken your journey

Have you ever heard of okija? 90% of so called nnewi billonaires have fresh heads in their wardrobes. People in sw learned skull mining after eboes started migrating enmasse

Sufferingboy:


Land of trillionaires.

But they steal pot of stew and biscuit

Advocate500:
in your own little mind, because he said some things that correlate with your thought means he is saying the truth? Why is he stereotyping the entire ethnic group because of the crime of few? Iweala is an igbowoman,maybe she does drugs as well, same with chimanmanda and rest .how come we have not read positive articles of this man about the igbos? If only a yuroba writer will blame the entire tribe over fruadulent activities perpetrated by few people from the region. Make una try get sense,that one bears same name with you does not make him a brother.

Joe igbokwe is a living witness.

The only difference in the between us ibo and others is that we call a spade a spade... Nwanne rapu okwu... Okwu aburo nri.

Ndị Igbo na achọ ego anyhow... Take it from me majority of drug related issues are caused my ndị Igbo... Ya bụ ego mbute mentality

Just like the majority of scam and fraud are yoruba

While the majority of corruption, fanaticism is Hausa fulani

The earlier we start telling ourselves the truth as tribes the better for us

Do we have good ones in these ethnicities, yes but they have to speak up..

Just look at how the society praises wealth without asking how... The young ones has been affected today...

Ibute ike mentality, ego mbute mentality must stop in Igbo land

seunolu7:


Have you ever heard of okija? 90% of so called nnewi billonaires have fresh heads in their wardrobes. People in sw learned skull mining after eboes started migrating enmasse

SW perfected it and has donininated the Skull businesses for decades now with scam in all facets from religion to society

The only difference with igbo is that the igbo will speak up and tell themselves the truth while SW will pretend and play ostrich and cry

That is the difference between the two


Don't come here and give us moral high ground.... I live in Lagos and I know the peculiarities here

Casala for early morning

[color=#006600][/color]

blackpanda:
Igbos see anything that will bring money as legitimate. Stealing, looting, kidnapping, lies, scam, yahoo etc. They are happy as long as they make money, it doesnt matter how even sacrificing family members for rituals.

The problem with people like you is that you choose to be in denial, so all those bad things you mentioned are committed by only igbos? There is evil I'm every part of Nigeria and every tribe but that you and people like the poster choose to single out igbos in everything evil in Nigeria is what exposes you for what you are, what would have happened if igbos are the ones ruling nigeria and it's in this mess today? Simple minds everywhere, the greatest ritualistic and cultists and looters in Nigeria are igbos? The biggest known armed robbers and kidnappers in Nigeria are igbos? All of you can keep deluding yourselves and doing the ostrich, but as long as you lot will not take responsibility for your own wrongs and keep blaming igbos for your own evil, it will keep multiplying since you believe it's the igbos that will be blamed

seunolu7:


You people don't like the truth. Yahoo yahoo is the same level across the west, East and South South. We've seen videos of benin boys spraying money, many arrested yahoo boys in the sw are igbos. Check abuja too. And even if yahoo is bad, it doesn't destroy communities. See how you're flogging people for using mkpuru. Yet nobody has ever flogged yahoo boy. And still, nobody sells that mkpuru to outsiders more than eboes. That's evil.

your reasoning is shallow does not worth my time, a section of the igbos mostly from anambra state does drugs just like their counterparts from oyo state and ogun specialises in skull mining does not mean the yurobas are skull miners, i don't know if that have sink in ?

IkpuMmadu:



The only difference in the between us ibo and others is that we call a spade a spade... Nwanne rapu okwu... Okwu aburo nri.

Ndị Igbo na achọ ego anyhow... Take it from me majority of drug related issues are caused my ndị Igbo... Ya bụ ego mbute mentality

Just like the majority of scam and fraud are yoruba

While the majority of corruption, fanaticism is Hausa fulani

The earlier we start telling ourselves the truth as tribes the better for us

Do we have good ones in these ethnicities, yes but they have to speak up..

Just look at how the society praises wealth without asking how... The young ones has been affected today...

Ibute ike mentality, ego mbute mentality must stop in Igbo land

nwanne stop generalizing, you make no sense when you generalize the issue of crime, that all i am saying.

How can developers be criminals abroad? I thought they were great entrepreneurs.

Advocate500:
nwanne stop generalizing, you make no sense when you generalize the issue of crime, that all i am saying.

nwanne madu, I am not generalizing... But the preponderance is high na ani igbo

Ka anyị kwụsị ito ndị kpara ego na adịro mma