Army decries poor Igbo youths’ enlistment in military service

The Nigerian Army has expressed deep concern over the consistently low number of enlistments from the South East in its ongoing 2025 recruitment exercise, urging young people in the region to change their attitude and take advantage of the opportunity to serve.

Brigadier-General Chima Ekeator, leader of the Army’s 2025 recruitment enlightenment team, revealed that while Kaduna State has already recorded over 3,000 applications, Enugu State is struggling with barely 100. He made this known during a town hall meeting held over the weekend in Enugu with local government chairmen, traditional rulers, presidents-general of town unions, and other thought leaders.

“Our people are losing what rightly belongs to them,” Ekeator said. “Each year, slots are allocated to states, but the South East continues to witness poor turnout. Enugu, for instance, was allocated about 200 slots, but less than half of that number applied.”

He added that this trend is not unique to Enugu, but is evident across the entire South East region. “By the time we complete the screening, there won’t be enough candidates to meet the state’s quota,” he warned.

Responding to allegations that South East soldiers are disproportionately sent to the frontlines, leading to higher casualties, Brigadier-General Ekeator dismissed the claims as misinformation. He emphasized that individuals from the region currently hold strategic positions in the Army.

“There is a lot of false information claiming that Igbo soldiers are used as cannon fodder. That’s simply not true. Many of us from this region have risen to senior ranks. For example, one of our own, Chibueze Ogbuabor, is a top commander in charge of equipment in the Nigerian Army,” he stated.

Also speaking at the event, the Enugu State Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Mr. Lloyd Ekweremadu, expressed disappointment over the region’s persistent low participation, despite ongoing sensitization efforts. He called for more innovative strategies in communicating the benefits of military service.

“While sitting here, I conducted a quick online search and discovered that even militaries across the world are facing similar challenges. They are now using modern, more relatable approaches to engage the new generation. We must do the same,” Ekweremadu said.

He reaffirmed Governor Peter Mbah’s commitment to ensuring that Enugu fills its recruitment quota, describing the Army as a noble and globally respected profession.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Okechukwu Edeh, pledged stronger support from local government councils to encourage enlistment. However, he also called on the military leadership to address lingering concerns within the region to make military service more attractive to the youth.

Other notable speakers included the State Coordinator of the Presidents-General of Enugu State Town Unions, Arinze Ogbodo; former Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Ambassador Lawrence Agubuzu; and the traditional ruler of Nomeh Unataeze, Lieutenant Colonel Israel Mbah (rtd), all of whom echoed the call for increased awareness and participation.

“I was a military officer. I survived many wars, and today, I am a traditional ruler. I served my country, and I urge our young people to do the same,” Mbah said.