Join the military, COAS urges South East youths

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Waidi Shaibu, has called on leaders, parents, guardians and elders in the South East to encourage young men and women in the region to enlist in the Nigerian Army, saying the zone has continued to fall short of its recruitment quota.

Shaibu made the appeal recently during the passing-out parade of 2,989 regular recruits at the Nigerian Army Recruits Training Depot in Amasiri-Edda, located in Afikpo and Edda Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State.

The army chief said recruitment figures from the South East had remained low for some time, a development he said should not persist. He urged communities in the zone to take advantage of the newly established military training depot and support greater participation of their youths in military service.

The Amasiri-Edda training depot was set up by the federal government in November last year to serve the South East zone.

Addressing the gathering at the parade, Shaibu described military service as a patriotic and honourable path that offers an opportunity for leadership and service to the nation.

“We ask for continual support as the military service is very demanding. Please stand by them, encourage them, and pray for them.

“To our host, Ndigbo, I wish to humbly request that you encourage your youth to take their rightful place in the defence of our fatherland.

“For some time now, the recruitment quota from this zone has not been fully utilised. This should not continue. Military service is not just a career but an honourable endeavour of patriotism, leadership, and national contribution.

“I therefore urge community leaders, parents, guardians, and elders in the southeast zone to encourage our young men and women to see this depot as their own and step forward to serve.

“Once again, I convey our proud and profound appreciation to everyone present at this occasion. God bless the Nigerian Army,” he said.

He told the newly passed-out recruits that the training they had undergone was meant to equip them for the responsibilities ahead and lay the groundwork for further military instruction.

Shaibu also said Nigeria’s security environment, like that of the wider African continent, had become increasingly complex, with multiple threats demanding discipline, sacrifice and commitment from personnel.

“Today, terrorism, insurgency, banditry, separatist violence, transnational organised crime, cyber threats, and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons have combined to create an unprecedented challenge to peace and stability across Africa.

“It is therefore imperative that you newly trained recruits soldiers understand from the onset that the defense of Nigeria requires sacrifice and unwavering commitment to duty.”

The COAS further warned the fresh soldiers against violating the Nigerian Army’s social media policy, saying acts of indiscretion online could attract disciplinary measures, including dismissal from service.

“A growing trend of indiscretion on social media has had serious consequences for airing personnel. The unauthorised posting of operational information, images of military activities, sensitive locations, as well as the dissemination of unverified and misleading content constitute a great and serious breach of external regulations.

“Let me be clear, violations of social media policy can and will result in disciplinary action, including dismissal from service where necessary.

“The implications of such misconduct are far-reaching. For the individual soldiers, it represents a loss of career, honour, and livelihood. For the Army, it undermines discipline, operational security, morale, and institutional credibility.

“For the nation, it represents a waste of substantial public investment in your training. You must therefore exercise the highest level of restraint, maturity, and responsibility as you navigate the social media space,” he stated.

Governor Francis Nwifuru, in his remarks, assured the Nigerian Army of Ebonyi State’s continued support, saying the state would remain a reliable partner in military training and operations.

“We shall continue to provide a peaceful and conducive environment for training and military operations while promoting harmonious coexistence between the military and our communities.

“The donation of land was only the beginning of a long-term partnership founded on mutual respect and our shared aspiration for a safer Ebonyi State and a stronger Nigeria.

“When the idea of establishing this depot on Ebonyi soil was conceived, we wholeheartedly embraced it because we recognised its strategic importance to our nation and its immense benefits to our people.”