SUMMARY

The Igbo people (sometimes referred to as Ibo) are an ethnic and ethno-linguistic community residing in Nigeria. The Igbo people have been involved in non-state conflicts with other ethnic communities in Nigeria.

The Igbo speak the Igbo language and reside mainly in south-eastern Nigeria. The majority are Christians, in contrast to the other major groups in Nigeria who are mainly Muslim (Hausa, Fulani, some Yoruba) or adhere to traditional Yoruba religion (some Yoruba). Igbo make up a fifth of Nigerias population, thus numbering close to 30 million. During the colonial period, many Igbo had access to education through missionary schools and converted to Christianity. The Igbo were preferentially treated by the British rulers and selected for lower-level positions, thus exacerbating tensions between Igbo and other groups. After an Igbo-led coup in 1966, northerners massacred large numbers of Igbo, and the violence culminated in the Biafra intrastate conflict 1967-70 in which the Igbo-dominated eastern region of Nigeria attempted to secede. After Biafran troops were defeated and the region re-incorporated into Nigeria, the Igbo were largely discriminated against and excluded from political power under both civil and military governments, although their position has reportedly improved somewhat since democratic elections in 1999 ended a 15-year period of military rule.

In conflicts with other ethnic groups the Igbo have not appeared to deploy a formally organised militia, but instead relied on more loosely organised groupings to carry out violence against opponents.

The Igbo people have been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organised violence.