Retired Nigerian Air Force officer, Group Captain Sodiq Shehu, has called for a significant increase in military recruitment to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to address its growing security challenges, drawing parallels with the rapid expansion of the armed forces during the Nigerian Civil War.
Shehu made the call during an interview on Channels Television, on Thursday, 4 June, 2026, while discussing the country’s security situation and the need for a larger military presence to tackle insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of violent crime. According to him, the scale of current security threats requires a corresponding increase in the number of personnel available to defend the nation.
The former military officer argued that Nigeria has successfully expanded its armed forces in the past when faced with major security challenges and should be willing to adopt a similar approach today. He pointed to the experience of the civil war era as evidence that large-scale recruitment can be achieved within a relatively short period when there is sufficient political will.
“When the civil war started, Nigerian Military were just few thousands. But within one year, we saw massive recruitment that made it close to 100,000. So why are we not doing that now,” Shehu said.
He stressed that increasing troop numbers would not only improve military operations but also help reduce the burden on existing personnel who are often deployed across multiple conflict zones simultaneously. Shehu noted that security forces are currently stretched thin by the numerous threats confronting the country.
The retired officer also emphasized the importance of equipping newly recruited personnel with adequate training, modern equipment and intelligence support to ensure effectiveness in the field. He argued that recruitment alone would not solve the problem unless accompanied by sustained investment in military capacity.
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