COAS boosts army strength as over 8,000 soldiers graduate from depot, Osogbo

By Kingsley Omonobi

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has strengthened the Nigerian Army’s operational capacity with the graduation of more than 8,000 newly trained soldiers from the Depot Nigerian Army, Osogbo.

The recruits are expected to reinforce ongoing military operations against terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other emerging security threats across the country.

In a statement, the Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, described the Passing Out Parade, held on Saturday, June 27, 2026, as another milestone in the Nigerian Army’s commitment to building a highly professional, combat-ready and mission-oriented force capable of supporting the country’s national security objectives.

Speaking at the ceremony, Lt. Gen. Shaibu said the recruitment was in line with the Federal Government’s directive under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, for the Nigerian Army to recruit an additional 28,000 personnel to strengthen its force structure.