The Nigerian military will soon recruit 8000 soldiers for counter-terrorism and anti-banditry campaigns.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Nigerian Army, Senator Ali Ndume, who made the disclosure during a media chat in Maiduguri, Borno State, said that the Nigerian military counter-terrorism operations would curtail the activities of Boko Haram and other security challenges in 2021.
Ndume said, “In terms of numbers, instead of the normal recruitment of 4,000 or 6,000 soldiers at a time, we have asked them (military) to recruit about 8,000 soldiers. “The new recruits are undergoing training in Zaria and Falgori, in order to beef-up the number of the troops”.
He added that as part of efforts to tackle the prevailing security challenges, the Nigerian Army had taken delivery of more sophisticated equipment for its operations and that more arms and ammunition would soon be delivered, while a better welfare package to motivate the soldiers had also been provided by the Federal Government.
Ndume said budget for the ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’s Theatre Command’ has been increased to N100 billion in 2011, from about N75 billion in 2020, adding that the Nigerian Armed Forces had also trained Special Forces that had dismantled Boko Haram insurgents from their hideouts, adding that that had significantly impacted on the counter insurgency campaign.
He lauded the military for standing in defence of the country in spite of challenges.
