I n s e c u r i t y . . .Army to recruit 9,000 men

He said the army has commenced “massive recruitment” in order to tackle the security challenge in the country. He also said the army would train and retrain its officers in order to meet the security challenges of the country.Speaking at the opening of a five-day seminar organised by the army’s Department of Civil-Military Affairs at […]

He said the army has commenced “massive recruitment” in order to tackle the security challenge in the country. He also said the army would train and retrain its officers in order to meet the security challenges of the country.
Speaking at the opening of a five-day seminar organised by the army’s Department of Civil-Military Affairs at the 2 Division headquarters at Odogbo, Ibadan, the Army Chief said, “I have commenced the recruitment of 9,000 persons in our various training institutions.’’
Ihejirika, who was represented by Maj. Gen. John Ewansiha, said the objective of the seminar was to foster better working relations with civil society organisations toward winning hearts and minds.
He said, “Indeed, the Nigerian Army is currently occupied with domestic challenges in several parts of the country, especially in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.’’
 The Chief of Civil-Military Affairs Major General Bola Koleoso said the seminar was part of the quest to resolve the crisis currently facing the nation. He said, “As we all know, the civil society organisations stand for the defence of human rights everywhere as well as in crisis situations. The military aims at defeating insurgents as well as protecting law-abiding citizens.’’
 Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who was the guest of honour, stressed the need for constant engagement and discussions between the civil and military publics. He said: “The modus operandi of the military is force; obedience to order and immediacy of that obedience. The modus operandi of the civil public is persuasion and constant engagement, which takes time.”
Ajimobi also said the task of such relationship should be how to bring the two publics together to pursue the same agenda for the democratic vision of the nation. He said, “the Nigerian civil public cannot afford to stand aloof from the military.
Since independence, the military has fought wars toward the sustenance of Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It has lost thousands of its men who are martyrs of the peace and nationhood we enjoy today. We cannot but support the military in its quest to protect the nation and her territorial borders.”
The theme of the seminar was “Consolidating Civil Society Organisations/Military Relations for Improved National Security.
A military source told Daily Trust last night that the army’s annual recruitment through its depot in Zaria is about 3,000. This year’s planned recruitment of 9,000 men is therefore three times the normal.