The Nigerian Army has graduated 4,739 recruits from the 90 Regular Recruits Intake at the Depot Nigerian Army, Osogbo, as part of efforts to strengthen national security and expand military manpower.
OSOGBO – The Nigerian Army has graduated 4,739 recruits from the 90 Regular Recruits Intake at the Depot Nigerian Army, Osogbo, Osun State, in a move aimed at strengthening national security and expanding the country’s military capacity.
Speaking at the passing-out parade on Saturday, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Waidi Shaibu, commended the Osogbo Depot for its consistent role in producing disciplined, professional and combat-ready soldiers for the Nigerian Army.
Shaibu said the training institution had established itself as a credible military academy, having successfully trained 8,111 recruits to the standards required by the Nigerian Army.
According to him, the achievement reinforces the army’s ability to produce well-trained personnel capable of sustaining ongoing operations against terrorism, insurgency and other emerging security threats across the country.
The Army Chief said the recruits had undergone rigorous military training that transformed them from civilians into disciplined soldiers imbued with the values, ethics and fighting spirit of the Nigerian Army.
He noted that the revised training curriculum, with a stronger focus on counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations, had equipped the recruits with the foundational skills required for modern military operations.
Shaibu disclosed that the graduating recruits form part of the first batch of 28,000 personnel approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
“In this regard, the three training depots in Amasiri-Edda, Osogbo and Zaria are collectively expected to produce 14,000 recruits in two streams, a significant increase from the previous annual output of about 12,000,” he said.
The Army Chief also warned the newly enlisted soldiers against violating the Armed Forces’ social media policy, stressing that unauthorised publication of operational information, photographs of military activities or sensitive locations constitutes a serious offence.
“Violations can and will attract disciplinary action, including dismissal from service,” he warned.
He urged the recruits to exercise discipline, maturity and professionalism in their use of social media while ensuring strict compliance with human rights principles and established rules of engagement during military operations.
In his remarks, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State congratulated the graduating soldiers and urged them to remain loyal to the Constitution and always place national interest above personal considerations.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Kola Adewusi, Adeleke commended the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies for their continued sacrifices in promoting national unity, peace and stability.
The governor, however, appealed to the Nigerian Army to support ongoing efforts to tackle rising political violence in Osun State, which he attributed to the proliferation of illegal arms and criminal activities associated with illegal mining.
He specifically called for the establishment of military checkpoints at strategic entry and exit points across the state to curb the movement of illegal firearms and deter criminal elements.
The passing-out parade forms part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to strengthen the operational capacity of the Nigerian Army in addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
Visit GMTNewsng for more news stories.
