“South-East Is Losing What Rightfully Belongs to Them” — Army Decries Poor Enlistment, Denies Targeting Igbos

The Nigerian Army has expressed concern over the low turnout of applicants from the south-east in the ongoing nationwide recruitment exercise. At a town hall meeting held in Enugu on Saturday, Chima Ekeator, who leads the 2025 army recruitment enlightenment team, described the situation as worrisome, warning that the region risks missing out on opportunities that are rightfully theirs.

Ekeator noted that out of the 200 recruitment slots allocated to Enugu State this year, less than 100 applications were received. He pointed out that this trend of underrepresentation has become consistent across other south-eastern states as well.

He contrasted this with Kaduna State, which has recorded over 3,000 applications, urging youths in the south-east to seize the opportunity and apply in greater numbers to fill their quota. “Each year, whenever a slot is being allocated to our people, we notice the number of applicants is usually very poor,” he said.

Addressing circulating claims that soldiers from the south-east are being disproportionately deployed to high-risk areas, Ekeator dismissed the allegations as unfounded. He reassured the public that south-easterners hold prominent positions in the Nigerian Army, citing Major General Chibueze Ogbuabor, a top commander in charge of equipment, as an example.

“These things are not true. We that are here have risen high in the Army, and we are telling you that they are lies,” Ekeator emphasized, urging the youth not to be discouraged by misinformation but to take advantage of the recruitment process.