By Abubakar Yunusa
The Southern Kaduna Youths have called on Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja and Chief of Defence Staff Christopher Gwabin Musa to investigate six northern candidates participating in the Nigerian Army recruitment process, who claimed to be indigenes of the state.
A viral video surfaced earlier on Wednesday, showing six candidates in the recruitment process from Kaduna State, claiming Kosofe Local Government Area, Lagos Island Local Government Area, and Oshodi Isolo Local Government Area as their local governments of origin.
By falsely claiming to hail from Lagos, the candidates intended to secure slots designated for Lagos State indigenes, sparking reactions from Lagos residents who felt they were being short-changed in the recruitment process.
In a statement signed by SOKAPU National Youth Leader John Isaac on Friday, he said, “We respectfully urge the Chief of Army Staff and the Chief of Defence Staff to promptly investigate this matter.
“We appeal for the immediate release of these young men and their fair participation in the enlistment exercise, aligning with the principles afforded to every Nigerian citizen, as the unity of our nation transcends ethnic considerations.
“Furthermore, we implore the Kaduna State Government to establish a committee to thoroughly examine this matter with the aim of preventing any recurrence.”
Isaac noted that the Kaduna State Government includes a significant number of Yoruba individuals in its civil service, holding esteemed political appointments and tracing their origin to the South West, showcasing the state’s inclusive and liberal stance actively contributing to the unity of the Nigerian project.
“With great concern, the Southern Kaduna Youths have observed a distressing video featuring four youths originally from Kaduna State, currently residing in Lagos.
According to him,these individuals, earnestly seeking enlistment in the Nigerian Army, faced unwarranted humiliation, denial, and even arrest during the state screening process as of the time of composing this statement.
