Why South-East Youths Are Turning Away from the Nigerian Army

The concern expressed by the Nigerian Army over the low enlistment of youths from the South-East is understandable. However, it becomes deeply misplaced when it fails to confront the real reasons behind this reluctance. A region’s disengagement from national service cannot be addressed through appeals alone - it must be understood within the context of lived experience. The figures cited by Brigadier-General Uche Nnabuihe - 117 applications from Anambra out of 38,000 nationwide - are not just statistics. They are a reflection of a deeper crisis of trust, perception, and credibility. The Army’s response, centred on sensitisation campaigns and promises of career opportunities, misses the point. The issue is not ignorance or lack of awareness. It is a profound lack of confidence in the institution. Across the country, there have been persistent concerns about the welfare of rank-and-file soldiers. Reports of inadequate equipment, poor living conditions, delayed allowances, and insufficient support for troops deployed to confront heavily armed insurgents and criminal groups are widespread. Families of fallen soldiers often recount stories not of honour and care, but of neglect and abandonment. Even more troubling are accounts that personnel who raise concerns about these conditions face sanctions rather than solutions. Young people are paying attention. They are watching how those currently serving are treated - and they are making rational decisions. Why would they willingly enlist in a system where those on the frontlines feel undervalued, exposed, and unheard? For the South-East, this concern is further compounded by its peculiar experience with military operations. Over the years, the region has witnessed repeated deployments of security forces in response to separatist agitation and other security concerns. While the state has a duty to maintain law and order, these operations have often been accompanied by allegations of excessive force, arbitrary arrests, and extrajudicial killings. For many families in the region, these are not distant or abstract allegations - they are personal realities. In such circumstances, asking young people to join the very institution they associate with repression rather than protection raises difficult but necessary questions. Trust in public institutions is not built through recruitment campaigns. It is earned through accountability, justice, and respect for human rights. If the Nigerian Army is genuinely concerned about the low turnout from the South-East, then it must go beyond public messaging and undertake sincere institutional reforms. This includes improving the welfare of serving personnel, ensuring that soldiers are properly equipped and supported, and establishing safe and credible channels for addressing grievances without fear of retaliation. Equally important is the need to rethink the approach to security in the South-East. Military force alone cannot resolve what are fundamentally political and socio-economic grievances. Issues of marginalisation, exclusion, and economic neglect require dialogue, inclusion, and responsive governance. Heavy-handed tactics only deepen resentment and reinforce alienation. The Army has highlighted the benefits of military service - structured career progression, medical care, pensions, and opportunities for international exposure. These are valid and important. But they cannot outweigh lived realities. Young people are not persuaded by promises alone; they are guided by evidence. Rebuilding trust will not happen overnight. It will require transparency in military operations, accountability for abuses, and a demonstrable commitment to the welfare and dignity of both soldiers and civilians. It will also require a broader national reckoning with the role of the military in a democratic society - one where the armed forces are seen not as instruments of coercion, but as protectors of the people. Until then, the question should not simply be why South-East youths are reluctant to enlist. The real question is: what has the system done to earn their trust? Until that question is answered with honesty and reform, the numbers will remain unchanged. --- OKECHUKWU NWANGUMA is the Executive Director of Rule of Law Accountability And Advocacy Centre, RULAAC. He writes from Lagos.