NewStats: 3,264,513 , 8,183,980 topics. Date: Wednesday, 11 June 2025 at 11:45 AM 3j6q6l

A former Provost Marshall of the Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen Pat Akem-Vingir (retd), says the military needs at least 500,000 personnel to eliminate terror groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

“Our army is small. We need to have an army of at least 500,000 personnel,” the retired general said on the Friday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television.

The Nigerian military has about 230,000 personnel, according to the ranking platform, Global Fire Power. Maj-Gen Akem-Vingir said much of the successes of the military in the theatre of war in Nigeria’s North-East zone have been lost because of the lack of manpower to hold the ground after clearance operations.

He said until there is sufficient manpower to secure territories after terrorist dislodgement, the blood-thirsty marauders would continue to regain those places.

He said, “When you are fighting insurgency, you must capture ground and hold it. It takes troops to do that. When you capture ground, then you build and hold so that people can resume their lives and there will be security but if you are clearing areas and you are not holding, then they (terrorists) will come back.”

The retired general also said the government should not recognise the newly formed terror group Lakurawa wreaking havoc in the North-West geopolitical zone of the country.

Maj-Gen Akem-Vingir described the Lakurawa group as “one small tiny group” seeking attention.

He said, “We shouldn’t recognise them, we shouldn’t even discuss them because they will think they are being noticed now and want to do more.

“They are one small tiny group that shouldn’t even get out attention; that should be swatted away – that shouldn’t be given any energy to feed upon. They are seeking attention.”

He urged the government to empower the military with the right equipment, training, and the “full authority” to crush the enemies of the state.

The former army provost said, “The president needs to give the instruction to security agencies in the open where Nigerians will hear it.

“When he does that openly, and tell them I want to see your needs on my table in two weeks because, without security, you can’t be talking about governance.”

https://www.channelstv.com/2025/02/07/military-needs-500000-personnel-to-defeat-insurgency-ex-army-provost/

Keep deceiving yourselves.

500,000 people for bandits and Terrorists to use for shooting practice. Okay na.

I don't think it's the job of the army to secure territories after troop clearance
That's the job of police

In summary we need more police coz the majority of the few ones we have are stationed with VIPs ....

Looking for youths to waste again. Continue

How much Dem dey pay army that time :

😣 The whole insecurity challenges is a BIG MONEY MAKING BUSINESS VENTURE especially for the government hence the possibility of this ending is almost impossible.

The youths are available, but the government and military leadership aren't serious. Hundreds of thousands of youths apply to the Army every year but they pick only very little cos they have a fixed quota.

It's even worse in the Navy and Air Force, those ones don't recruit much, with very strict age limit for both graduates and non-graduates.

Edygrin:
A former Provost Marshall of the Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen Pat Akem-Vingir (retd), says the military needs at least 500,000 personnel to eliminate terror groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).


https://www.channelstv.com/2025/02/07/military-needs-500000-personnel-to-defeat-insurgency-ex-army-provost/

This shouldn’t be a problem—Nigeria has the population to meet the 500,000 personnel requirement. But for a former general to openly disclose such sensitive details about the army's size raises serious concerns. How did he even become a soldier? Manpower empowerment may not happen anytime soon because most Nigerians are frustrated with the recruitment process and simply don’t trust it. Without restoring public confidence, getting more people to the military will remain a challenge.

Defeating enemies is not always numerically dependent but tactically and strategically dependent.When Egypt, Jordan and Syria came against Israel on Yom Kippur day in 1963 iat first it looked as if Israel was losing on the first two days but on the third the war took a drastic turn and Israel recovered many lost grounds and even more with just few soldiers.

500,000 soldiers to sacrifice abi.. nonsense

Conscript NYSC and jobless youths

God’s grace to those interested. 🙏

Any insecurity that exceeds 48 hrs at any level, the Government is aware of the doings.

ing Nigeria army nawadays is more like a suicidal mission, a friend of mine from idoma speaking part of Benue state was among those soldiers killed by terrorists in bornu state few weeks ago, his father requested for his cops to be brought back home for final funeral but the Nigeria army refused and buried him in maiduguri because his dead body was too horrible for the entire village to see, a picture of his dead body was sent to his brother few days letter and his father couldn't eat anything for two days after seeing his dead body, we all cried like babies, I couldn't keep the picture in my gallery because I always cry 😭 each time I come across it, I will not pray for my enemies dead bodies to be like that when they die 😭😭😭😭

ItisWell22:
God’s grace to those interested. 🙏

After thinking over this offer of employment I have decided to the Nigerian Army.

Before I go and undergo military training in preparation for facing the Boko Haram terrorist group, I would like to requisition some essential juju items of traditional warfare, from Nairaland's esteemed Babalawo Juju Witch Doctors both known and under cover..

First I want to buy a genuine bullet-proof juju that will make me impervious to small arms fire, mortars, and artillery of less than 120 mm caliber. This same ballistically protective juju must also be effective against KamiKaze FPV drones that may try to attack me in my trench.

For those skirmishes with the enemy in the desert hinterland of Sambisa Forest, I will also need a reliable invisibility juju talisman.

Finally, I will require teleportation juju to instantaneously dematerialize at the slightest hint of incoming fire, only to reappear miles away.

Nairaland's highly respected Juju practitioners should kindly tender their pricing bids on the above three traditional warfare modalities.

Once I am properly fortified in the traditional African way I will the Nigerian army and even fight for free, collecting only weed, food, and wenches as my modest salary at the war front.

SeverusSnape:
500,000 people for bandits and Terrorists to use for shooting practice. Okay na.

DuBLINGreenb:
Conscript NYSC and jobless youths

NYSC? I'm sure you are not a graduate na why you dey jealous corpers.

It's even better they conscript prisoners and put them at the battle field.

Make people like Nnamdi Kanu lead the fight from the front lines.

No problem.

"Recruit 50million youths and feed them agbado, cassava, corn..."
~~Tinubu

A house dividend against itself cannot stand!

Who are the insurgents? Majority of the insurgents are disgruntled Nigerians!

The best solution to end insurgency is good governance in which the welfare of the citizens is the number one priority of acquiring political position and not the mindless looting of the funds attached to a political office.

EyeCumInPeace:
No problem.

"Recruit 50million youths and feed them agbado, cassava, corn..."
~~Tinubu

Hahahahaha
.

EyeCumInPeace:
No problem.

"Recruit 50million youths and feed them agbado, cassava, corn..."
~~Tinubu

helinues u claim u love one Nigeria, shey u no prove ur love go army bayi

EDUECO:
A house dividend against itself cannot stand!

Who are the insurgents? Majority of the insurgents are disgruntled Nigerians!

The best solution to end insurgency is good governance in which the welfare of the citizens is the number one priority of acquiring political position and not the mindless looting of the funds attached to a political office.

I'm glad you understand that One Nigeria is a scam.

Every politician should make their able body children available

Edygrin:
A former Provost Marshall of the Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen Pat Akem-Vingir (retd), says the military needs at least 500,000 personnel to eliminate terror groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).


https://www.channelstv.com/2025/02/07/military-needs-500000-personnel-to-defeat-insurgency-ex-army-provost/

Can u cater for them...the few men u av some of the ogas are taking diverting funds for weapons sending them to untimely graves and you want 500k of the armed forces...can't work

divinevie:
Every politician should make their able body children available

If this became a requirement they would send the children of their gateman, gardener, cook, security man and driver while sending their own children to relax in London where there is no gra-gra taking place.

divinevie:
Every politician should make their able body children available

I concur to this !

Tinubu proposed 50 million. I think I'll go with Tinubu's suggestion of 50 million cos 500k is too small to win the war against insurgency

Edygrin:
A former Provost Marshall of the Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen Pat Akem-Vingir (retd), says the military needs at least 500,000 personnel to eliminate terror groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).


https://www.channelstv.com/2025/02/07/military-needs-500000-personnel-to-defeat-insurgency-ex-army-provost/

How many men did the clueless. President say he was going to recruit and feed with agbado and beans again?

Recruit recruit !!!!

500,000 personnel with 50nos of AK 47, 100 nos of grenade. The rest will carry knives.

israelmao:
Defeating enemies is not always numerically dependent but tactically and strategically dependent.When Egypt, Jordan and Syria came against Israel on Yom Kippur day in 1963 iat first it looked as if Israel was losing on the first two days but on the third the war took a drastic turn and Israel recovered many lost grounds and even more with just few soldiers.

1973 not 1963

RealLordZeus:
I don't think it's the job of the army to secure territories after troop clearance
That's the job of police

In summary we need more police coz the majority of the few ones we have are stationed with VIPs ....

The police are not equipped to tackle organised groups using military-grade weapons. That's the job of the military.