Army graduates 2,989 Amasiri Depot pioneer recruits (1)
By Amarachukwu Egwu-Agha
Abakaliki
The Nigerian Army Wednesday recorded a major milestone with the graduation of 2,989 out of 3,011 candidates admitted into the 90 Regular Recruit Intake pioneer recruits from the newly established Depot Nigerian Army, Amasiri-Edda, in Afikpo local government area of Ebonyi state.
The passing out parade, reviewed by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.- Gen Waidi Shaibu, marked the first graduation ceremony at the depot, which was established on November 25, 2025, as the third recruit training depot of the Nigerian Army and the first primary military training institution in the South-east geopolitical zone.
Addressing the parade, the army chief described the event as a landmark in the ongoing transformation of the Nigerian Army.
He said the establishment of the depot reflects the federal government’s commitment to national integration, equitable development and strengthening of the country’s security architecture.
He stated that the 2,989 graduating soldiers form part of the first batch of 14,000 recruits under the 28,000-man Strategic Force Expansion Initiative approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to boost the manpower of the Nigerian Army in response to emerging security threats.
Shaibu commended the commandant and instructors of the depot for successfully transforming civilians into disciplined and combat-ready soldiers, urging the graduates to remain professional, loyal and committed to protecting Nigeria’s sovereignty while respecting human rights and the rules of engagement in all operations.
He warned the newly enlisted soldiers against the misuse of social media, stating that the unauthorised publication of operational information, photographs of military activities and sensitive locations would attract severe disciplinary measures, including dismissal from service.
The army chief also appealed to leaders and residents of the South-east to encourage more youth to enlist in the military, lamenting that recruitment quotas allocated to the region have consistently remained underutilised despite the establishment of the training institution in Ebonyi state.
In his remarks, Ebonyi state governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, described the graduation of the pioneer recruits as a historic achievement for the state and the nation, saying the establishment of the depot had already begun to improve security, stimulate economic activities and strengthening civil-military relations in the state.