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Revealed: Real reason Igbo youths are shunning Nigerian army

Published

5 months ago

April 19, 2026

There are growing concerns over the Igbo youths lack of interest in joining the army.

It was learnt that Anambra recorded only 117 applicants out of 38,000 applications received nationwide in the ongoing recruitment.

Permanent Secretary, Anambra State Ministry of Youths, Ifeatu Emodi, said many young people in the region had shown declining interest due to misconceptions and misinformation about the Army.

The Nigerian Army expressed concern over the low level of enrolment from the South-East.

The army expressed the concern during a sensitisation event held at the Ministry of Youths’ office in Awka, the state capital.

The leader of the army delegation to sensitise youths in Awka, Brig.-Gen. Uche Nnabuihe, said the figure was recorded as of April 7, before the commencement of a nationwide awareness campaign for the 91 Regular Recruits Intake.

The Nigerian Army had raised concerns over the poor enrolment of South-East youths in its recruitment exercise.

The leader of the 2025 army recruitment enlightenment team, Chima Ekeator, had said the South-East was gradually losing out on what was rightfully theirs.

Speaking during a town hall meeting in Enugu, Ekeator said out of 200 slots allocated to South-East states in last year’s recruitment, the region barely recorded 100 applications.

“Our people are losing what rightly belongs to them. Each year, whenever a slot is being allocated to our people, we keep noticing that the number of applicants from our side is usually very poor,” Ekeator said.

Speaking at the sensitisation on Saturday, Nnabuihe said the programme was aimed at encouraging more youths from Anambra and the South-East to participate in the recruitment, which is open to tradesmen and non-tradesmen, and will close on May 27.

He added that the sensitisation was intended to correct the imbalance and encourage youths to take advantage of the opportunities available in the Nigerian Army.

Nnabuihe said, “We observed with concern that out of 38,000 applications received nationwide, only 117 came from Anambra as of April 7.

“This sensitisation is to correct that imbalance and encourage our youths to take advantage of the opportunities available in the Nigerian Army.

“We urge eligible youths to apply. The Army offers a structured career path and opportunities for national service.”

Also speaking, Lt.-Col. Ogbemudia Osawe said the Army had expanded its training infrastructure with institutions in Abakaliki and Osogbo to accommodate recruits.

Osawe highlighted the benefits of joining the service to include career progression, regular pay and allowances, access to continuous military education, and specialised training.

Other benefits include exposure to diverse cultures, welfare packages, free medical care for personnel and their families, as well as pension and gratuity.

He added that personnel also have opportunities for international assignments.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Anambra State Ministry of Youths, Ifeatu Emodi, commended the initiative, describing military enlistment as crucial, especially for youths in the South-East.

Emodi said many young people in the region had shown declining interest due to misconceptions and misinformation about the Army.

A traditional ruler, Igwe Michael Okeke-Uche of Enugwu-Agidi, also lauded the welfare structure of the Nigerian Army and urged youths to enlist to ensure adequate representation of the South-East in the military.

Related Topics:Anambra State Featured Igbo Nigerian Army

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An Open Letter to Executive Governor Mallam Uba Sani

Published

1 hour ago

September 13, 2026

News Diggers

The Unending Plight and Ongoing Killings in Kuyello

Your Excellency,

Mallam Uba Sani,

Executive Governor of Kaduna State,

Sir,

We write to you with heavy hearts, deep anguish, and a profound sense of urgency regarding the persistent and terrifying security breakdown in Kuyello, Birnin Gwari Local Government Area.

For years, the people of Kuyello have lived under the shadow of relentless violence, abductions, and mass killings.

While we acknowledge the government’s efforts and official declarations regarding security measures and negotiated peace initiatives, the reality on the ground paints a vastly different and devastating picture.

To us, the victims on the frontline, any negotiation with these non-state armed actors has proven entirely ineffective. The reality of our daily life remains unchanged:

Daily Attacks:

Villagers are hunted, attacked, and killed in their homes and on their farms day and night.

Economic Paralysis: Our farmers can no longer access their lands without facing death or paying heavy ransoms, destroying the local agricultural economy and pushing families into famine.

Mass Displacement:

Entire families have been forced to flee, turning communities into ghost towns as basic human safety remains unassured.

Peace cannot exist on paper while blood continues to flow in our streets. The ongoing violence demonstrates that these armed bands do not respect agreements or government mandates.

Kuyello requires decisive, sustained, and direct security intervention—not unfulfilled truces that leave innocent citizens exposed to constant danger.

*Our Prayers and Demands:*

1. Permanent Security Presence:

Immediate deployment of forward operating military bases and well-equipped security posts in and around Kuyello.

2. Offensive Military Operations: An immediate shift from passive peace talks to active tactical operations aimed at neutralizing bandit strongholds in the surrounding forests.

3. Protection for Farmers and Highways:

4. Targeted security patrols to secure agricultural lands and vital transport routes to restore local livelihoods and safety.

The primary duty of any government is the protection of lives and property. We appeal to your leadership, Your Excellency, to treat the situation in Kuyello as a critical state emergency before our community is wiped out entirely.

Respectfully yours,

SURAJO ISAH KUYELLO Concerned Residents and Stakeholders of Kuyello Community

Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, Kaduna State

News

NACTAL’s president-elect pledges inclusive leadership, stronger anti-trafficking action

Published

2 days ago

September 11, 2026

News Diggers

Comrade Osita Osemene, President-elect of the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) Nigeria, has pledged to unite members and strengthen the organisation’s capacity to combat human trafficking, child abuse and labour across Nigeria and the West African region.

Osemene made the commitment in his acceptance speech after emerging as president-elect of NACTAL, where he expressed gratitude to delegates for the confidence reposed in him and commended the organisation’s leadership for providing an enabling environment for a credible and transparent election.

He also acknowledged the contributions of the outgoing president, describing the leadership and work of the former administration as important to the continued development of the network.

Addressing members, Osemene declared that the election had ended and urged members to put divisions behind them.

“There are no camps or divisions. There is only one NACTAL Nigeria, and I am President for all,” he said.The president-elect also appreciated government ministries, departments and agencies, civil society networks, development organisations and international partners for their support and collaboration with NACTAL.

Among those acknowledged were the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), International Organization for Migration (IOM), International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), International Labour Organization (ILO), European Union, GIZ, ActionAid, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), National Directorate of Employment (NDE), National Senior Citizens Centre (NSDC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, ECOWAS Commission and the Nigeria Police Force.

Osemene said his administration would pursue five major priorities aimed at repositioning NACTAL and expanding its impact. These, according to him, include capacity building and economic empowerment; inclusion and transparency; institutional sustainability; stronger counter-trafficking and policy implementation; and regional leadership within ECOWAS.

He stressed that the mandate given to the new administration would not remain a mere electoral victory but would be translated into an action plan.

“The mandate we have received is now an action plan,” he said, promising to build an administration focused on practical results and stronger institutional structures.

Osemene further disclosed that work had already commenced towards one of the administration’s key priorities, noting that the organisational capacity assessment of survivor-led organisations which he began before the election would form part of the foundation for NACTAL’s planned capacity-building programme.

He called on NACTAL members, veterans, zonal and state coordinators, young professionals and partners to support the incoming administration in delivering on its mandate.

“The election is over. The mandate has been given. The work begins now,” Osemene declared.

He expressed confidence that through collective effort, NACTAL Nigeria could progress from its existing achievements to greater regional influence.

“Together, let us move from proven leadership to West African leadership,” he said.

Osemene concluded by seeking the continued support of members and partners and prayed for the progress of NACTAL Nigeria and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

News

Osita Osememe gets 95.65% votes, emerges NACTAL president

Published

2 days ago

September 11, 2026

News Diggers

Osita Samuel Osemene has emerged President of the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) for the 2026–2030 tenure, securing an overwhelming 95.65 per cent of the votes cast in the organisation’s national executive elections.

Osemene, who was nominated by Patriotic Citizen Initiatives, polled 44 of the 46 valid votes cast to defeat his opponent, Nosakhare Agbonavbare Erhunmwunsee of NAME Foundation, who secured two votes, representing 4.35 per cent.

The election was conducted electronically on September 5, 2026, with all 46 accredited voters casting their ballots. The NACTAL Electoral Committee recorded 46 valid votes and no invalid ballot.

In its official declaration, the Electoral Committee said it had conducted the electronic voting and thoroughly verified all cast ballots and verification tokens before declaring the results.

The committee subsequently declared Osemene duly elected as National President of NACTAL for the 2026–2030 tenure.

Osemene’s emergence was part of the election of a new National Executive Council to steer the affairs of NACTAL during the four-year tenure.

Other officers elected include Sarah David Ibi of Women of Valour Initiatives for Development and Empowerment, who emerged National Vice President unopposed with 46 votes.

Enwelum Ogechukwu Uzoamaka of Divine Era Development and Social Rights Initiative was elected National Secretary with 30 votes, representing 65.22 per cent, while Lorrieth Nwafor of Initiative for Social Change in Africa polled 16 votes.

Kalejaiye Olasunkanmi of Global Promoters for Community Initiatives was elected National Assistant Secretary unopposed with all 46 votes.

Eunice Oghale Odeghe of Female Drivers Association won the National Financial Secretary position with 32 votes, while Eunice Favour Eboatu of Reachout Initiative for Vulnerable Africa Women received 14 votes.

Ahmad Hashim of Millennium Development Center, Gusau, emerged National Internal Auditor unopposed with 46 votes, while Andrew Azubuike Duru of Rarduja Development Organisation was elected National Public Relations Officer, also with 46 votes.

Adedeji John Oludare of Betterliving Foundation & Capacity Development emerged National Treasurer unopposed, while Aremu Samuel Adeniyi of CSO for Conflict Resolution in Nigeria was elected National Legal Adviser, both securing all 46 votes.

At the zonal level, Eucheria Onyemaobi of Zaram Life Foundation was elected South-East Coordinator with eight out of eight votes, while Ejalonibu Ezekiel Agboola of Livingspring Human Development Initiatives won in the South-West with seven out of seven votes.

Kabiru Musa of Kebbi Sickle Cell Association emerged North-West Coordinator with seven out of seven votes, while Vera Roli Igbinadolor was elected North-Central Coordinator with three out of three votes.

The NACTAL Electoral Committee certified the results as a true, full and accurate account of the electronic votes validly cast in the National and Zonal Executive Elections held on September 5, 2026.