Nigeria is to enlist 6,251 soldiers to tackle separatists, terrorists, and other criminal activities, the country's Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, has revealed during the recent passing-out parade of 84 regular recruits in Zaria, Kaduna State.
The Nigerian Army has recognized that separatist agitation is a significant threat to the country's stability.
Additionally, Yahaya listed the activities of Boko Haram*, Islamic State West African Province* (ISWAP) terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, religious extremists, and other criminal elements as major security challenges faced by the country.
The army chief pledged that the military, with the support of the federal government, would overcome the multiplicity of security threats plaguing the country.
"The army with the support of the Federal Government will continue to do everything possible to surmount the various security challenges confronting the country until Nigeria becomes safe for all," he stated. "The adoption of cyclic training, which allows each recruit to undergo every aspect of training, has made you a strong force to be reckoned with."
Nigeria has been grappling with severe security issues for more than a decade, including banditry, theft of crude oil and terrorism, which remains the most challenging to combat. The militants are not only active in Nigeria but also in neighboring Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, adding to the complexity of the issue.
*terrorist organizations banned in Russia and in many other countries.