The Nigerian Army has dismissed viral claims that it intends to make military service mandatory for all citizens aged 18 and above.
In a statement posted on its official social media accounts on Thursday, November 21, the Army labelled the reports as “fake news” and clarified that the statement allegedly made by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu was entirely false.
The misinformation initially circulated on a website called Spynigeria.NG, which falsely claimed that the army would enforce compulsory recruitment due to declining voluntary enlistment.
The report also incorrectly asserted that 10,000 recruits from the previous year were unaccounted for.
The clarification comes amid heightened security concerns across Nigeria. Attacks by Boko Haram and ISWAP in the Northeast, kidnappings and banditry in the Northwest, and conflicts between farmers and herders in the Middle Belt have put considerable strain on security forces.
Recent incidents include the kidnapping of school children in Kebbi and Niger States and an attack on a church in Kwara State that resulted in deaths and abductions.
Separatist movements, such as the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the Southeast, have further complicated the security landscape.
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Despite the ongoing challenges, the Army reassured Nigerians that there are currently no plans for mandatory military service. Citizens interested in joining are advised to follow official recruitment channels for voluntary enlistment.
