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Nigeria Tackles Violence with Largest Military Expansion in Years
24 Jul
Summary
- 28,000 new soldiers to be recruited, creating four new army divisions.
- Government under pressure to curb widespread violence from armed groups.
- Security experts cite recruitment challenges due to soldier casualties.
Nigeria is undertaking its largest military expansion in recent history as President Bola Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 28,000 additional soldiers. This expansion includes the creation of four new army divisions, bringing the total to twelve, aimed at bolstering the fight against pervasive security threats. The government faces immense pressure to address violence from militant Islamists, separatists, and kidnapping gangs plaguing the nation.
Recent incidents, such as the killing of villagers in Zamfara and the abduction of students in Borno, highlight the ongoing crisis. While authorities report some recent successes, criminal groups remain sophisticated and violence continues to define life in Nigeria. The new divisions are intended to improve coordination, intelligence sharing, and response times across the country's vast territories.
In addition to troop increases, three new army headquarters will be established in violence-prone northeastern and central regions. President Tinubu has also announced plans for over 50,000 new police officers and a record defense budget allocation of 5.41 trillion naira ($4 billion USD). However, security experts caution that attracting recruits may prove challenging given the number of soldiers lost in recent months.
