The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Waidi Shaibu, has announced that the Nigerian Army has successfully trained 14,000 of the 28,000 additional soldiers approved by President Bola Tinubu to strengthen the country’s security operations against terrorism, banditry, and other violent crimes.
Speaking during an interactive session with media executives at the 2026 Nigerian Army Day Celebration in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Shaibu said the recruitment followed an assessment of the Army’s manpower shortly after he assumed office.
According to him, he recommended an expansion of the Army’s personnel strength to address the country’s growing security challenges, a proposal that received the President’s approval.
Providing an update on the recruitment exercise, the Army Chief disclosed that 6,000 recruits completed training at the Zaria depot, 5,000 graduated from the Osogbo training school, while another 3,000 are expected to complete training at the Amasiri-Edda Training Depot, bringing the total number of trained personnel to approximately 14,000.
Shaibu explained that the Army has reviewed its training curriculum to better prepare recruits for modern warfare, with emphasis on marksmanship, counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, and other specialised combat skills. He noted that recruits undergo nearly 11 months of intensive training before deployment.
The Army Chief also revealed that military operations across the country have intensified, leading to the arrest and neutralisation of 1,877 terrorists through intelligence-driven operations carried out in collaboration with other security agencies and international partners.
He attributed these successes to improved logistics, enhanced training programmes, stronger strategic partnerships, and continued support from the Federal Government.
Shaibu further disclosed that the Nigerian Army has strengthened its operational capacity by acquiring mine-resistant vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), surveillance systems, and other advanced military equipment.
He noted that the Army is also deploying locally manufactured combat vehicles, including the Vampire armoured vehicle, to support military operations both within and outside Nigeria.
According to him, the Army will continue collaborating with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and other indigenous manufacturers to promote local production of defence equipment.
On the recent abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State, Shaibu assured Nigerians that security forces were making significant progress in ongoing rescue operations.
He also emphasized that improving the welfare of military personnel remains a key priority through the renovation and construction of barracks, affordable housing programmes for retiring soldiers, and expanded training opportunities.
The Army Chief urged Nigerians to continue supporting security agencies by providing credible intelligence, stressing that maintaining national security requires the collective efforts of both the military and the public.
