JUST IN: Nigerian Army Begins Mass Recruitment

As disclosed in a statement by the Director, Directorate of Army Recruitment, Resettlement and Reserve, Brig.,-Gen Emmanuel Akpan, on Friday, the Army Headquarters has embarked on mass recruitment of personnel into its Special Forces Concept Training nationwide.

Speaking at an advocacy visit to Gov. Kayode Fayemi in Ado Ekiti, Akpan said the recruitment was in line with global best practices to reinvigorate the force, adding that the sensitisation and enlightenment tour would take him to all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

In his words, the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai, had directed that the Special Forces concept be integrated in all Nigerian Army training institutions, adding that the nationwide tour had become imperative to enable states fill their quotas

”This new approach to training implies that all new recruits must undergo Special Forces training. The current approach, apart from ensuring that all Nigerian Army personnel can adopt and function seamlessly in any operating environment, is also expected to imbue in personnel special skills that enable them to win battles,” he said.

As reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Army Chief, who later met with a group of youths at the Government House, educated them on the pride in serving their country, urging them to get the information across to their mates and colleagues by enlisting in the army, saying a fulfilling career awaited them.

”I can assure you that contrary to insinuation and rumours, you do not need a godfather to join the Nigerian Army. It is your army, it is our army, every able bodied Nigerian without criminal record is free to join so that they can serve without having to know anybody as a precondition. Whoever is taken must have been taken on the basis of fulfilling all normal requirements.”