The recruitment of 400 members of the Civilian Joint Task Force in Borno State into the Nigerian Army has pitted prominent socio -cultural groups representing different regions of the country against one another on the proprietary or otherwise of the move.

While the Arewa Consultative Forum is fully in support of the decision, groups such as Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Afenifere, the Middle Belt Forum and the Pan Niger Delta Forum are against it on the premise that only persons from a particular area of the country are recruited into the Army.

The Nigerian Army had on Wednesday absorbed 400 members of the civilian JTF into its fold to assist in prosecuting the war against Boko Haram terrorists .

The men , among who are hunters, are being enlisted into the Nigerian Army’ s supper camp strategy in Borno State , the worst hit by the insurgency .
Governor Babagana Zulum, who commissioned the 400 men in the presence of the Chief of Army Staff , Lt. Gen . Tukur Buratai, said they formed the first batch to be recruited by the Army.

According to him , other CJTF members will be joining the Army soon .
The CJTF emerged in 2013 to support the security forces in the fight against Boko Haram and to protect local communities from attacks by insurgents and was formalised by the Borno State Government through a collaboration with the military .
The CJTF members were recruited , trained, kitted , deployed and paid monthly allowances to motivate them.

FG sectionalising Army , says Afenifere

Reacting to the news, the Yoruba socio - political group , Afenifere, through its National Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin, accused the Federal Government of regionalising the Army.

He said , “ There is no other name to call this than regionalisation of the Army for a section of the country without necessarily saying so. The rest of the country is not daft about what is going on. There is no way you can build confidence in national institutions when you continue to paint them in sectional colours. And these are the same people , who said the South -West could not do Amotekun a few months ago.

“ Borno is afflicted with crisis the way other sections are and we cannot turn our supposed national Army into the outfit of a section of it in addition to the sectionalism and parochialism of this regime in the last five years. ”

Move breaches federal character principle — Ohanaeze Ndigbo, M ’ Belt Forum

Similarly , the apex Igbo socio -cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, insisted that the commissioning of the 400 civilian JTF members in Borno State into the Nigerian Army violated the federal character principle in national appointments.
It said the action of the Army leadership showed that the security apparatus of the country had collapsed.

The President- General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo , who spoke through his Media Adviser , Chief Emeka Attamah, condemned the action of the Army, saying it had negative implications .

He stated , “ It is a clear vindication of those, who hold the view that a situation where civilians are now conscripted into the Army to fight Boko Haram is a big shame to Nigeria.
“ It runs against the spirit of the federal character principle , which ensures equity in national employment. Can this be replicated in other parts of the country?

“ Who has guaranteed the integrity of the people absorbed into the Army? Who is sure they are not even sympathetic to the Boko Haram cause?”
Similarly , the Middle Belt Forum faulted the recruitment of the civilian JTF members into the Army.

The National President of the forum, Dr Bitrus Porgu , who spoke with one of our correspondents in Jos on Thursday, said the action of the Nigerian Army negated the principle federalism being practiced by Nigeria.
Porgu said , “ We are not objecting to the absorption of the CJTF members into the military for assisting them in the fight against insurgency .

“ However , there should be equity in everything we do as a country, because we are a federation and are not supposed to do things haphazardly. So , if the Nigerian Army wants to recruit CJTF members into its fold, it should also bring in similar outfits in other parts of the country , so that there will be equity in representation in the Army .

“ This is important because we have them all over the country , who are also sacrificing their lives to help in securing the country and working hard on their own volition without receiving salaries. Why single out an outfit in a region for recruitment?”

In order to strengthen Nigeria’ s security apparatus , Porgu maintained that the absorption of the vigilantes should not be restricted to only the Nigerian Army , but should be extended to the police and other para- military agencies
He insisted that the establishment of state police remained the best option to solving the country’ s security challenges.

Recruit JTF , vigilante members from other regions — PANDEF

Also, the Pan Niger Delta Forum said volunteers and vigilante members in other parts of the country should be commissioned into the Army like what was done with the civilian JTF in Borno State .

The spokesman for PANDEF, Ken Robinson, who stated this in a chat with one of our correspondents, said this would bring about fairness, adding that it would raise suspicion if what happened in Borno was not replicated in other parts of the country.

He added that the armed forces and the police were understaffed and would do with more personnel.

Robinson stated , “ Obviously , the armed forces and even the police are understaffed. I don ’ t know the number of personnel we have immediately, but I know we have less than 500, 000 police personnel policing a nation of about 200 million people .

“ So, I ’m sure that the situation with the Army won ’t be different . If they are properly profiled and the so -called civilian JTF members are not the so-called repentant Boko Haram members that they are putting into the Army , then good and fine.

“ But we need to interrogate that further to be sure that they are truly not the so- called repentant Boko Haram members, because those stories and insinuations are everywhere that that is what is happening and that when that is done , they will most likely be posted to the southern parts of the country and become another terror gang .

“ So, we are conscious about that and we are a bit worried . If they are recruiting civilian JTF members into the Army, then they should do the same in other parts of the country.
“ There are vigilante groups in almost all the states. They should also get their members into the Nigerian Army to strengthen internal security . But, if they don ’t do that and concentrate on doing so in the North , then it is suspicious. ”

Do same in other regions , Borno elder advises NA

A Borno State elder statesman , Zanna Boguma , advised the Army to replicate the commissioning of volunteers into its fold in all states experiencing insecurity in the country to ensure fairness and balance in the system with the aim of achieving speedy restoration of peace and security .

He said the decision of the Army to recruit civilian JTF members in Borno State to help in the fight against insurgency was a global practice that allows volunteers to participate in the restoration of peace and order in different localities .

Boguma made the statement in Maiduguri on Thursday while responding to the recruitment of 400 civilian JTF members by the Army.

“ These non - armed militias have been trained and trusted by the Army; they have been at the forefront of the counterinsurgency fight; it is only ideal for the Army to conscript these into its operations if it wants to effectively combat insurgency ,” he stated .

He said the Army was supposed to recruit at least 2 ,000 volunteers considering the number of ideal youths willing to join in the fight, adding that the conscription of the civilian JTF members was not a ploy for regional recruitment into the Army as those engaged would only be used for the duration of the operation against insurgents.

“ I know there is recruitment presently ongoing in the armed forces ; the incorporation of these willing volunteers is just for the purpose of the Boko Haram fight . They will be disengaged as soon as peace and security are restored, ” he added.

Boguma said with the wave of insecurity being experienced in the country , it would be wise for the Army to engage able- bodied volunteers from the affected states in order to combat such crimes, adding , “ There is kidnapping going on in the country ; and there is banditry in the North - West ; pipeline vandalism in the South- South; the Army should engage volunteers from these affected zones , who know the terrain very well, to be at the forefront of the fight, so that they can achieve the desired result. ”

He noted that the Army had been overstretched as a result of the multiple operations it was undertaking in the country , adding that it was slow in recruiting the civilian JTF members who had contributed to the restoration of relative peace in most local government areas of Borno State because of their vast knowledge of the terrain .

Nigeria in war situation in Borno, says ACF

However , the pan - northern socio - political organisation, the Arewa Consultative Forum, said the conscription of 400 civilian JTF members into the military was normal in a war situation .
The ACF National Publicity Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Yawe , told one of our correspondents in an interview in Kaduna on Thursday, “ We are in a war situation in Borno .”

Yawe said during the Nigerian civil war , many citizens were conscripted into the Army , adding that some were even given military ranks, but after the war , they were disbanded.
The ACF spokesman stated , “ We are in a war situation in Borno . What you do at the warfront should not be compared with that of peace time or decisions taken in a peaceful environment. You embark on conscription and field promotion at the warfront . All these are not normal military traditions. ”

The Army spokesman , Col. Sagir Musa, did not respond to enquiries on the recruitment of 400 civilian JTF into the Nigerian Army and if there was any plan to extend the same gesture to vigilante members in other parts of the country.
https://punchng.com/ohanaeze-afenifere-acf-disagree-over-civilian-jtfs-recruitment-into-army/

THE NORTHERN POLITICAL LEADERSHIP IS GETTING THE FEELINGS THAT THE SOUTH DO NOT WANT TO FOLLOW THEM TO FIGHT THE WAR AGAINST THE BOKO HARAM INSURGENCY.

As a survivalist strategy and with their man ( President Buhari ) in charge of the federal government in Abuja they got his blessing to conscript the 400 JTF personnel to fight Boko Haram. Although this action seems to violates existing federal character laws in Nigeria as the Nigerian army does not belong to the north or one region of the country.

The northern political leadership knows that by the time Buhari leaves public office they risk having their regions especially the north east ( Borno state, Yobe state ) will be over ran completely by the Boko Haram fighters.

The north should know that they can not eat their cake and have it.

When they forgot about the problems in the north and concentrated to loot southern resources in a lopsided federalism did they ever realise that nemesis will catch up with their people in the north.

According to Ohaneze the action by the federal government to turn civilian JTF into soldiers violates the federal character laws of Nigeria.

The reality about this BOKO HARAM crisis is the fact that it lays credence to the fact that Nigeria is due for restructuring whether it does not suit northern interest or not.

ONE THING THAT SHOULD AMAZES THE SOUTH IS THE FACT THAT WHENEVER THE NORTH WANT TO SEEK FOR ANYTHING THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE FEELING OF THE SOUTHERN PART OF NIGERIA THEY BOLDLY DO IT.

When the south west region started Amotekun as their own regional security outfit, it was the north that first kick against it but now they are abusing the federal army to conscript civilian JTF as if they own the Nigerian army.

Northern Nigeria is being hunted by the sins of its political leaders as they have derailed from the dreams and vision of Sir Ahmadu Bello who saw the north as being capable of surviving on its own through agriculture without the need to fall back on southern resources.

I disagree with Afenifere and ohaneze on this one. I believe most of the civilian JTF guys would still be deployed to 7div to execute the war on terror. After all it's the same Afenifere and ohaneze that would still cry foul if the army starts deploying more soldiers of southern extraction to fight the war

Nigeria, the only country on earth where u have to pay before u can join the military. Every other country day beg people to join, but for Nigeria, u gat pay to join. Nigeria is out of this world. Hunter day join army for 21st century. Laugh.

The government should be advised against this.. Apart from being the usual sectional recruitment, It is wrong on many levels. The Army has already been compromised. We hear stories of soldiers spying for Boko Haram, How are we sure these Civilian JTF are not spies as well.

The army relying on Civilian JTF for intelligence is not even sensible, Now they are recruiting them?! Terrible Idea.

Well, This is already a lost battle. The FG/Army does what it wants. At least educate and train these people properly before you recruit them. That's all we ask.

The SW,SE,SS leaders are so selfish and Coward for not uniting together against intimidation from the northerners and watching them matching our head, sitting on us. Using us to play tennis ball. The high time we realize that this people have intention of colonizing all the region the better for us to Act.

I think it's fine, they have been fighting to defend their homes for years now and this at least gives them a better chance at not being slaughtered.

But it must be a temporary thing.

TecM0:



North doesn't support any policy favouring South

South doesn't support any policy favouring North


However on this, if the Civilian JTF are qualified and have the o level certificate then I see no big deal, last military recruitment their was very low turnout , it was so bad the. Army had to reduce requirements, nobody wants to take such deadly job



.

Abi o.

Ask those confussionists if they have children that are willing to accept posting to Borno state.

You rant that they should not deploy southerners in Borno state. When they mobilize Borno indigene to fight in Borno state, you complain again.

emperor863:



Abi o.

Ask those confussionists if they have children that are willing to accept posting to Borno state.

You rant that they should not deploy southerners in Borno state. When they mobilize Borno indigene to fight in Borno state, you complain again.

Pleasing Nigerians is a difficult task

.

frankson1:




I am not here to argue about anything but just to understand something.

The NA had to lower the qualifications for enlistment. I don't know if these Elders and different groups encouraged their people to obtain the form.

The same people on Nairaland who are condemning this spoke against the NA calling on Nigerians to come for enlistment.

I'm personally alright with this as long as it is temporary.

Witnessing the army's constant brutality against civilians, corruption exposed by solders themselves, overly long duration of service and ineffectiveness against both terrorism and banditry its not hard to dismiss the military as a fruitless endeavour.

I personally wanted to join until I did some actual research about the army.

TecM0:



Pleasing Nigerians is a difficult task

.

I think these unfortunate beings are only trying to weaken the government and possibly bring it down. They are all PDP sympathisers especially the Afenifere people.

emperor863:


I think these unfortunate beings are only trying to weaken the government and possibly bring it down. They are all PDP sympathisers especially the Afenifere people.

Odumakin was former Buhari's spokesman during CPC/ANPP days, and Buhari dropped him with any appointment, now he is the spokesperson for Afenifere so it's personal vendetta

As for Ohaneneze we know they are 100% PDP

.

Sad

Am in support of the army bcox those guyz are really trying

Apart from the ACF, the other groups seem to enjoy wallowing in self-inflicted ignorance.

It seems it is only the ACF that know what they want in this country; the rest are just bunch of confused fellows who enjoy being in a rat-race, yet complain at every turn of expected occurrences.

These folks (Afenifere, Ohaneze, PANDEF and MBF) should stop complaining about symptoms, instead they should attack the disease (the root cause); until then, they should hold their peace.

to an extent i dont see anything wrong,all i see is that the morale of the CJTF is higher than the Army,hence the need to absorb them
furthermore it will be dangerous to abandon these men in the street after exposing them to sophisticated fire arms...then again it is a good thing to always counter and counter attack an ideology/agenda you feel is not right
Kudos to all

Rugaria:
Is it still Nigerias army? At this juncture, is it not obvious that the Nigerian army is now a northern Nigeria instrument for coercion and oppression? We have a thread here where a southern cadidate during recruitment had his number swapped and given to a northerner. People, is this how you biuld a country you want to last or a colony you intend to ransack? It's happening before our eyes. When 90% of men and officers are from a section of the country, it becomes an army of occupation. Nepotism in this government is unrivaled and may have taken this country to a point of no return..

the Southerners should better prepared themselves those JTF are those Fulani foot soldiers.

PANDEFF, OHANEZE, AFENIFERE and MIDDLE BELT are all useless and compromised sets of idiots. As far as they're there only to grab some crumbs for their stomachs without any visible actions to match all the nonsense of the AREWA terrorists, the North will continue to override us and imposing their conquest policies on us all.

They are already preparing their foot soldiers while southern governors are busy looking as if they don't know what is going on underground.

Niaralanders are argumentive lot just for the sake of it, same ones urging southerners not to join the army, due to Bokoharam successes, are same ones complaining Northerners are monopolising recruiting into army.

Nigeria is not worth dying for you guys kept writing or texting Soldiers, only fools join the Nigerian army, run for your lives you told them, and many of you celebrated desertions.....

Another cause of Nigeria's problems I've identified, is shortsightedness and short-termism: sacrificing long term success on the altar of immediate gratification.

Isnt there an Act that regulates recruitment into the Army?

princemillla:


Everthing is wrong with it, Nigeria army is own by Nigeria not northerners.

Do u know CJTF Is amost the same with neighborhood we have in Lagos, just like other agbekoya in some yorubaland and others in other part of the east and south?

What I expect the NA to do is give them exclusive training and grant them a better ammunition with close monitoring. But absorbing them into Nigeria Army will spark issues and may be against the military recruitment process

Or they can set up a reserve army (national guards) and enlist capable volunteers across the country to be trained specifically on modern counter terrorism combat.

MANY FRESH SCHOOL LEVER ARE OUT LOOKING FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH GOOD GRADES WHOM YOU TURNED DOWN NOW YOU ARE GOING TO RECRUIT CJTF AHEAD OF 2023 RIDE ON

Chaiii, look at it happening before their eyes.

Southern idiots!
By the time the fulani is done with all of you, you will remember the words of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu!

Farki:


I'm personally alright with this as long as it is temporary.

Witnessing the army's constant brutality against civilians, corruption exposed by solders themselves, overly long duration of service and ineffectiveness against both terrorism and banditry its not hard to dismiss the military as a fruitless endeavour.

I personally wanted to join until I did some actual research about the army.

Anyone joining now is going to face boko haram because they really need more soldiers right now.

If you want to join the military, I'd suggest you join the Navy or Air force.

As far as they stay up North to fight their Boko brothers and sisters, I don't care

tommy589:
There is a date for creation and expiration

Nothing lasts forever!

I believe this,its no more working.

Imagine recruiting hunters into a national defense institution like army is the highest order of absurdity.

Mennn please this shithole should split in peace before its too late

Born to rule dociles on the beat