B’Haram War: Nigerian Army recalls soldiers from study leave

Following intensified insurgency attacks across the country, particularly in the North, the Nigerian Army has recalled a large number of its personnel studying in civil institutions (universities and polytechnics) across the country, according to a leaked memo by the Nigerian Army Headquarters, Department of Army Training, Abuja.

In the memo dated May 11, the Nigerian Army also suspended the sponsorship of personnel in civil institutions with the exemption of students in the final year.

This is happening as the army continues to suffer heavy casualties in its counter-insurgency operations that have seen hundreds of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists also neutralised by gallant Nigerian troops.

Following the shortage of personnel to fight rising insurgency across the country, Saturday Punch learnt that the Nigerian Army had recalled all its personnel studying at various civil institutions except those in the final year.

It is  however unclear whether the  recalled personnel will be deoployed for administrative  purpose or combat operations in the war front.

Speaking with Saturday Punch, two top military sources, who are brigadier generals, said the development was a result of the insufficient number of army personnel fighting insurgency across the country.

The sources, who declared that the country was already at war, said personnel could not be studying in schools while a war was going on.

“We are in a war situation, but it seems Nigerians are taking things lightly. This is a war situation, and we have less than 200,000 soldiers in a country of around 200 million population. So we are lacking personnel, and as a matter of fact, we have started recruiting,” one of the military sources said.

Asked if the number of recalled soldiers from civil institutions would be significant in the anti-insurgency war, the source responded, “It’s significant and it will make a difference. I can’t tell you the number of soldiers in civil institutions offhand, but they are many. ”

“We cannot have a war situation and they are in school. But those in final year are exempted,” he added.

The source said the army would cope better if other security agencies, particularly the police, would complement their efforts rather than being attached to politicians and other VIPs.

-Punch