“Is Google purporting to be in some kind of theatre of collusion bent on alienating and, subjugating Igbo language just as the current Nigeria government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been accused of?
In a viral protest letter circulating across social media platforms the Honorable Minister of Trade and Investment State of African Diaspora (SOAD) Hon. Ebube Ebisike George has accused Google of what he described as “Digital Igbophobia” alleging ‘bias’ on Google Nigeria to neglect the inclusion of Igbo Language in its recently launched AI featured local languages in its search engine platforms.
The letter addressed to the Google CEO and copied to its Nigeria representative Mr. Taiwo Kola Ogunlade unearthed deep seated ethnic bias allegedly meted out to one of Africa’s largest ethnic group found in every part of the world and dominating every ethnic group across Nigeria had requested the Google CEO to prevail on its Nigeria representative whose ethnic background is alleged to have influenced the inclusion of only two major Nigerian languages excluding the Igbo language which numbered among the widely spoken major languages among over 300 languages spoken in Nigeria.
The letter attached here reads;
Digital Igbophobia – Request for Igbo Language To Expediently Be Enabled For Artificial Intelligence (AI) Powered Search Features.
Sundar Pichai
CEO
Google & Alphabet
The Googleplex
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View
California 94043
United States
cc: Mr. Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade
Dear Google Team,
I am writing to express a grave concern about an issue I would term “digital Igbophobia” which reflects the current and seemingly bias AI-powered search features granted two of the three widely spoken and major languages in Nigeria being Yoruba and Hausa whilst “Igbo” language which is spoken by over 45 million people worldwide as of 2026 has been left out for unexplained reasons. Nigeria has over 350 ethnic groups and languages but has three major ones spoken widely hence Nigeria is referred to as “WAZOBIA”, which expresses the word “come” in Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo. It was reported in the PUNCH Newspaper on March 6th, 2026 at 7:00am that Google says it has expanded language support for its Artificial Intelligence-powered search features to include Yorùbá and Hausa Languages in Nigeria. This was made public through the Communications and Public Affairs Manager, West Africa of Google, Mr. Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade and released in a statement.
Google’s suppression of search queries about Igbo struggles and Biafra related subject matters:
There have been allegations of Google suppressing search queries and content related to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) who are Igbos and the broader Biafran separatist movement in Nigeria which stems from a complex interaction between government, technology platforms, and online activists. While pro-Biafra groups have accused Google of collaborating with the Nigerian government to restrict their reach. Further reports indicate a more nuanced situation involving content moderation, local legal compliance, and the removal of content that violates safety policies.
Key Aspects of the Alleged Suppression:
IPOB Allegations of Censorship:
IPOB has explicitly accused Google, alongside other international organizations, of suppressing favorable reports regarding their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, his court case and the IPOB movement in general. The argument is that positive news about their cause is de-emphasized while prosecution-led narratives are prioritized.
Government Pressure on Google:
In 2022, the Nigerian government officially asked Google to block YouTube channels and emails associated with IPOB, labeling the group a “terrorist organization” and citing their use of the platform to promote violence and instability which does not represent the facts on the ground as IPOB has stated emphatically that as an organisation they do not use violence as their modus operandi. Hence, IPOB is not recognized as a terrorist organisation by institutions and governments across other part of the world except in Nigeria with her collusionary islamist leanings and preferences.
Google’s Response and Policies:
Google has indicated that it has measures in place to handle “troublesome content” and does not want its platform used for harmful purposes which is the expected global standard. Google’s policy allows for the restriction of content based on local laws, which may explain the removal of certain content in Nigeria that is deemed illegal by the Nigerian government. Unfortunately this has become screwed against Igbo push back from the throes of marginalisation and repression.
Removal of Accounts:
In 2021, Facebook (Meta) removed Nnamdi Kanu’s account, citing a violation of policies against harmful content, which preceded some of the more intense pressure on Google to follow suit. But this has not been the same for other ethnic mouthpiece who have threatened Igbos countless times.
Distinction Between Suppression and Content Moderation:
While activists often define this as “suppression,” platforms often categorize the removal of content as moderation against violent rhetoric, disinformation, or “media warriors” especially for those calling for killings, as highlighted in some studies and reports.
Contextual Factors And Information War:
The conflict over Biafra is characterized as an “information war” on the one hand, with both sides deemed to be utilizing social media for propaganda, making it difficult to differentiate between legitimate content removal and active, politically motivated suppression.
Independent Research:
Studies suggest that while the Nigerian government has sought to restrict online activism related to Biafra, the movement has successfully utilized decentralized social media platforms to bypass these restrictions, especially as Igbos has to speak out against genocidal action, false flag operations and other injustices suffered by them in Nigeria daily.
Legal Landscape:
In Nigeria, while free speech is constitutionally protected, it is often restricted when it clashes with national security concerns, which is heavily applied to secessionist movements, calls for a referendum, regionalism, extrajudicial killings and issues related state sponsored terrorism.
Following from the above, evidence points to Google complying with local Nigerian legal requests to restrict specific content from the banned IPOB group, which is framed by the government as curbing violence and by the group as silencing their views, which to IPOB reflects an infringement to their legal right to self-determination as recognized under international charters and law.
So in line with the above, is there a specific reason why Yoruba and Hausa especially were given this AI-powered search enablement and preference and Igbo language left out? Or is it due to the easier affiliation of the Yoruba and Hausa language and their people who share more sociopolitical and Islamic religious ties to one another or in line with the Nigeria Government’s unspoken body language?
Is Google purporting to be in some kind of theatre of collusion bent on alienating and subjugating Igbo language just as the current Nigeria government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been accused of?
Do see just a few key headlines associated with the challenges and successes Igbos face in Nigeria:
- Nigeria islamist security forces extorted over N100B in 3years from Igbos in South East. See: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/302621-nigeria-security-forces-extort-n100-billion-in-southeast-in-three-years-report.html
- Removal Of Igbo History From History Book for Junior Secondary Schools in Nigeria https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/articles/cpw09g90z7zo
- Physics textbook written in Igbo. See: https://punchng.com/i-was-called-mad-for-writing-physics-textbook-in-igbo-language-author/
- Book – Igbos Existed Before Adam. See: https://share.google/aimode/i6vcCZR9Vmi7uE5G5
- Robotics. See: https://guardian.ng/news/osinbajo-launches-africas-first-humanoid-robot-omeife/
- Islamist Bombing in Nigeria:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/18/world/africa/nigeria-christmas-bombing-republicans.html
There are countless more but I will stop here.
As a technologist, trade Minister, diplomat, media and business development consultancy professional of Igbo extraction, I very much understand the importance of promoting our local languages in the digital space. Igbo is one of the major languages spoken in Nigeria and in the diaspora, and it is great to see efforts being made to support Yoruba and Hausa by Google but it seems like there is a deliberate bias against Igbo which needs to be addressed and which consequently implies Igbo language expediently needs to be included in the AI-powered search initiatives. This will no doubt make information more accessible to Igbo speakers and people of other global extractions seeking to know more about all kinds of subject matters inclusive of researchers around the language, her cosmology and Igbo people. This would greatly contribute to the preservation and promotion of the Igbo language and her people’s historic and growing contributions to the global knowledge economy across humanity’s journey of civilisational advancement
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
His Excellency Hon. Ebube Ebisike George
Minister Of Trade
SOAD
