South-East Nigeria’s youth are turning away from military careers — and the numbers are striking. Anambra State recorded only 117 army applications out of 38,000 nationwide. “South-East youths are gradually losing out on what was rightfully theirs,” warns military officials. The Editorial Board examines why a critical region of Nigeria shows such reluctance to serve, and what this means for national representation in security agencies.

South-East Nigeria’s youth are turning away from military careers — and the numbers are striking. Anambra State recorded only 117 army applications out of 38,000 nationwide. “South-East youths are gradually losing out on what was rightfully theirs,” warns military officials. The Editorial Board examines why a critical region of Nigeria shows such reluctance to serve, and what this means for national representation in security agencies.