No fewer than 127 soldiers are quitting the Nigerian Military regardless of the deteriorating security challenges the army is at the moment combating in some parts of the nation, Premium Times reports.
The troopers, drawn from numerous formations of the military throughout the country, are all the junior cadres who’re largely on the frontlines.
The sourced memo revealed that the army personnel, including one Master Warrant Officer, three Warrant Officers, 29 Sergeants, 64 Corporals, 22 Staff Sergeants, seven Lance Corporals, and one Private, will leave in May
Tukur Buratai, Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, a lieutenant general, has since accepted their formal disengagement.
The listing of the departing combatants didn’t differentiate between those beginning voluntary retirement and people withdrawing from the military on medical grounds.
Based on the memo signed by brigadier a general, T.A Gagariga, who conveyed the approval of their disengagements, the 127 soldiers are to relinquish all army properties of their possession. Read all
Partly stated: “In compliance with the provisions of section A, the COAS vide reference B has approved the voluntary discharge of the above-named NWO and 126 others listed in annex A.
“The soldiers are to proceed on terminal leave WEF 26th April, 21 while their disengagement date takes effect from 26th May 21 in accordance with the NA administrative policies and procedures No. 27 paragraphs 3 and 4,” the memo read.
The country is currently battling the Boko Haram insurgents in the North-east, armed bandits in the North-west and North-central, as well as militants and pirates in the South-south.
The Nigerian Armed Forces, comprising the Army, Navy and Air Force, had in the past lamented about insufficient personnel to help in the restoration of sanity in the country.
Recently, the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, a retired major general, said the military was understaffed and underfunded to tackle the various security challenges facing the country.
Despite the minister’s claim of low funding for the military, the defence sector has for the past five years taken a large chunk of Nigeria’s budget.
Following repeated complaints about insufficient personnel, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo revealed last year that there was an ongoing deliberate and comprehensive consolidation of the security situation in the country which included plans to recruit more troops and officers to beef up the personnel of security agencies in order to contain the threats and security concerns in the land.
