Senator Emma Nwachukwu, who represents Anambra South, has warned that the reluctance of Ignorance of Igbo youths to join the Nigerian Armed Forces could leave the South-East with few or no officers of Igbo origin in the Army. Navy and Air Force in the coming years.
He made the remarks while addressing constituents at his country home in Ukpor, Nnewi South Local Government Area, Anambra State.
Nwachukwu said some young people he spoke with were afraid of being deployed to areas affected by Boko Haram insurgency. He urged youths in the region to take advantage of recruitment opportunities in the military and other security agencies.
“During interaction, I found out that our youths are afraid of joining the military because they are afraid of being posted to Boko Haram areas”, he said.
He warned that If the trend continues, there won’t be military officers of Igbo extraction in the Nigerian Armed Forces very soon.
“But the calamity of such decision is that few years’ time, we won’t have officers of Igno extraction in the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, and when that happens, we will be shouting of marginalization”, Nwachukwu said.
He urged the media to help sensitise young people in the region to the need to enlist and ensure adequate representation in the security services.
“You know that there are recruitments in the armed forces and the police, but unfortunately, our youths are not keen on working in the armed forces. The media should encourage our young people to please apply for these positions”, he said.
He urged the community leaders and other stakeholders to instensify efforts to persuade Igbo youths to apply for available positions in the security services.
“This is the time to reach out to our young people and encourage them to take advantage of those openings in the security forces so that we will be fully represented”, he said.
Nwachukwu ‘s comments come amid wider concerns about low military recruitment from the South-East. In April 2025, an Army recruitment team also urged youths in the region to apply, citing low application numbers in some South-East states compared with other parts of the country.
-9News Nigeria.
