No fewer than 196 soldiers in the North-East and other theatres of operation have applied to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, for voluntary retirement.
The action comes amid worsening security challenges the military is currently combating in most parts of the country.
Sources had told newsmen that most of the soldiers resigning had indicated interest to join the military forces of other countries, including the British Army, Ukrainian Army, and other Commonwealth nations.
The soldiers, drawn from various formations of the army across the country according to the list obtained on Saturday, are all junior cadres.
Although, the list of the exiting soldiers did not distinguish between those embarking on voluntary retirement and those leaving the army on medical grounds, however, none of them had attained retirement age neither the mandatory years of service.
The Chief of Army Staff has since approved their formal disengagement, the approval of their voluntary disengagement dated August 23 was signed by Brigadier OH Musa.
There have been allegations of corruption in the Nigerian Army which some of the soldiers have blamed on the issue – soldiers overstaying in the North-East.
According to some soldiers, the army is the epitome of deep-seated corruption. They noted that the corruption is affecting the prosecution of the anti-terrorism war in the North-East.
They complained that they were being forced to confront Boko Haram militants, adding that their low morale and lack of willingness to continue to fight made it possible for terrorists to dislodge some military camps recently.
They complained of abandonment and accused the military authorities of keeping them on the war front beyond their approved period of stay.
According to recent reports, there were moves by many soldiers to resign over poor welfare, inadequate equipment, and lack of motivation within the Nigerian Army.
Multiple sources who spoke to the newsmen had expressed frustration with the Nigerian government’s failure to provide them with decent living conditions, modern weapons, and adequate compensation to combat a series of non-state actors ravaging the country.
“A set of 27 personnel are leaving and this set is only medical corps. Infantry corps and armoured corps are still coming. So many more will leave.
“Soldiers are leaving because the work is no longer sustainable. People are running every day to join British Army, Ukraine, Russia, Commonwealth army and the likes. That’s what is happening now,” one of the sources in the Nigerian military had informed newsmen.
“Even the planned protest, many soldiers are praying it should happen,” another source added.
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