By Pascal Ibe

Claim

An X user, Elochukwu Ohagi, claimed that soldiers engaged in a clean-up exercise in Anambra State to lure Southeast youths to join the Nigerian Army.

Verdict

This claim is FALSE. Findings showed that over the years, the Nigerian Army has, through the Civil-Military Cooperation Initiative (CIMIC), engaged in community development services across many states in Nigeria, and not just in Anambra.

Full Text

An X user, Elochukwu Ohagi, has claimed that soldiers engaged in a sanitation exercise in Anambra to lure Southeast youths to join the Nigerian Army.

Ohagi posted photos of the soldiers cleaning up drainages in some parts of Onitsha in Anambra State and claimed that they are doing so to attract the Southeast youths into joining the Nigerian military.

The post reads, “Just In Nigeria Army starts cleaning exercise in Onitsha to attract Igbo youths into joining the Military.

The military feels that such an exercise will make Igbo youths change their mind.

What do you think about this gesture from the Nigerian military? Will it overshadow Operation Python Dance 1, 2, and 3?
Elochukwu Ohagi, Philosopher, Teacher ,and Activist, 2025.

The post has generated over 101k views and more than 400 reposts with a thousand likes on the X platform.

Background

In April, authorities of the Nigerian Army lamented the poor enlistment of Igbo youths from the South East zone of the country into military service, saying it is high time they changed their attitude to reverse the trend.

It specifically called on the youths of the zone to apply en masse in the ongoing 2025 recruitment exercise to fill their quotas, the way their counterparts in other zones did.

Verification

FACTWATCH Nigeria conducted a keyword search to verify this claim. Results led us to a report published by a state-owned television station, Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), on its Facebook page on Sunday, which confirmed that there was a clean-up exercise by the Nigerian army in some parts of Onitsha, Anambra State

According to ABS, as part of its Civil-Military Cooperation, CIMIC initiatives, the 302 Artillery Regiment (General Support) and 14 Field Engineer Regiment carried out a major sanitation exercise across selected communities in Onitsha South Local Government Area, Anambra State.

The cleanup exercise, led by the Commander of the Regiment, Colonel Adamu Muhammad, focused on clearing refuse dumps and disilting drainage systems to promote a healthier environment and reduce the risk of flooding during the rainy season.

The exercise spanned 11 neighborhoods, including Mbonu Ojike Street, Fegge, Nimo Street, Bishop Shanahan, Sheba Street, Yahaya Street, and Uzodimma Street, among others.

Speaking at the flagging off of the exercise, Colonel Muhammad emphasized the importance of maintaining a clean environment, particularly during the rainy season.

On the claim by the X user, Elochukwu Ohagi, findings showed that over the years, the Nigerian Army has actively engaged in community development services across many states in Nigeria, and not just in Anambra or other Southeast states.

For instance, when the Cholera broke out in 2024, soldiers from the 35 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Alamala, carried out an environmental sanitation exercise at Lafenwa market in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

In November 2022, as part of the Exercise Still Water programme, the 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army carried out a clean-up exercise of Itam market and its environs in Itu council area of Akwa Ibom.

See similar reports of sanitation exercise carried out by the Nigerian army in different Nigerian states here, here, and here.

Conclusion

Contrary to the claim by the X user, evidence has shown that over the years, the Nigerian Army has engaged in many community development services and clean-up exercises in different Nigerian states to enhance civilian-military cooperation.