In a significant demonstration of patriotism, more than 10,000 youths from the Southeast geopolitical zone have applied to join the Nigerian Army as part of the ongoing 89 Regular Recruits Intake (RRI), defying a recent controversial press release issued by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
This remarkable surge in applications from the five Southeastern states Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo comes less than 48 hours after IPOB issued a strongly worded statement discouraging Igbo youths from enlisting in the Army. The separatist group claimed that the Nigerian Army exploits Igbo recruits and sacrifices them in conflicts primarily located in the North, warning that those who join would “return in disgrace or not return at all.”
However, the sentiments expressed by the youth across the region tell a different story. From Onitsha to Nsukka, Aba to Owerri, and Umuahia to Abakaliki, many young individuals are embracing the opportunity to serve in the Nigerian Army, viewing it as a pathway to national service and personal development.
Data gathered prominent cybercafés across the Southeast, where applications for recruitment are submitted online. Inside a popular cybercafé on Ogui Road in Enugu, Ifeanyi Eze, a 19-year-old applicant from Oji River, stated, “I don’t believe in IPOB’s lies. My brother is in the Army, and he has not only been promoted but has also traveled for United Nations Peacekeeping Missions. He supports our family. I want to follow that path.” Chinaza Ugochukwu from Abia State added, “It’s a job that gives pride and purpose. Serving Nigeria is not a crime. IPOB doesn’t feed us. The Army can give us a future.” Nkemakolam Okafor, an applicant from Orlu, remarked, “It’s not just about joining the military; it’s about reclaiming our dignity and our stake in Nigeria. We’ve been misled for too long. I’m Igbo and proud, but I’m also Nigerian.”
Reliable information available confirms that the 89 Regular Recruits Intake, which commenced online registration just ten days ago, has already recorded over 87,000 applications from across Nigeria, with more than 10,000 applications from the Southeast alone. This number is expected to rise further before the application deadline, indicating that Igbo youth view the Nigerian Army not as an adversary but as a platform for career development, social mobility, and national service. The overwhelming number of applicants from the Southeast contradicts IPOB’s portrayal of the Nigerian Army as antagonistic towards the Igbo people and reflects a growing rejection of separatist propaganda and a renewed commitment to national service, patriotism, and unity.
A Military Without Borders
Contrary to IPOB’s claims, the Nigerian Army operates as a national institution without ethnic, religious, or sectional bias. It serves as a melting pot of Nigeria’s diversity, united by discipline, merit, and loyalty to the Constitution.
The assertion that Igbo soldiers are marginalized or targeted within the Army is a blatant mischaracterization. In reality, numerous Igbo officers have risen through the ranks to attain high positions of authority, including Major Generals, General Officers Commanding (GOCs), Commandants of military institutions, and Principal Staff Officers at Army Headquarters and the Defence Headquarters. Notably, two Major Generals of Igbo origin, who are siblings, currently hold prominent roles in the Nigerian Army. This serves as clear evidence that Igbo people have equal opportunities for career growth and leadership within the Army.
Credit: Zagazola Makama ( x)
