Brigadier General Chima Ekeator, who leads the Nigerian Army Force Headquarters Recruitment Sensitisation Team in Anambra State, has raised concern over the extremely low participation of South-East youths in the ongoing nationwide army recruitment exercise.
According to him, only about 200 individuals from the entire region have registered so far, compared to over 4,000 applicants from other parts of the country.
Ekeator made this disclosure during an engagement session with youth leaders and Presidents-General (P-Gs) of various communities in Anambra. The sensitisation meeting aimed to galvanise grassroots efforts to encourage young people to seize the opportunity to join the military.
“This outreach is important. Current statistics show that only 200 youths from the South-East have applied, whereas some states have recorded figures exceeding 4,000 applicants,” he said.
He urged community leaders to return to their localities and actively engage with youths, stressing that greater participation would ensure the South-East secures its fair share in national military representation.
“The more our young people participate, the better represented the South-East will be in the Nigerian Army. We need to fill our quota and strengthen our presence within the force,” he added.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra, through the Commissioner for Youth Development, Patrick Aghamba, reiterated the state government’s commitment to promoting youth involvement in the military recruitment process. He appealed to traditional leaders and community heads to take proactive steps by mobilising at least ten qualified young people from each community to join the army.
Also lending support, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Tony-Collins Nwabunwanne, highlighted that the recruitment exercise targets candidates aged 18 to 22. He encouraged young men and women within this age bracket to consider military service as a viable career option.
However, the campaign has drawn opposition from the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed separatist group. In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, IPOB cautioned Igbo traditional rulers, religious leaders, and youth organisations against encouraging enlistment into the Nigerian Army.
The group alleged that the federal government is attempting to use respected figures in the South-East to drive recruitment, despite what it views as longstanding issues of marginalisation and inequity within the armed forces.
IPOB expressed deep reservations about the fairness of military enlistment and career advancement processes, claiming that the South-East is consistently allotted fewer slots during recruitment and has limited representation in senior military positions.
“Before asking our youths to join the military, we urge our community leaders to reflect on the historical and current treatment of Igbo officers within the system,” the statement read. “Issues of justice, fairness, and proper representation must be addressed.”
The group also voiced concern about the safety of enlisted personnel, especially those deployed to high-risk areas. It called for greater accountability and transparency from the Nigerian military regarding the casualties sustained in various security operations.
As the army intensifies its recruitment efforts, a complex mix of patriotic duty, regional representation, and historical grievances continues to shape the narrative around military service in the South-East.
