BREAKING: Dozens of ‘Repentant’ Terrorists Shortlisted For 2026 Nigerian Army Recruitment
At least 40 “repentant” Boko Haram insurgents have been shortlisted for the Nigerian Army’s 91st Regular Recruits Intake (RRI 91), multiple security sources familiar with the recruitment process said..
The shortlisted candidates were said to be part of the 3,740 repentant members of Boko Haram reintegrated into society by the Borno State government.
The Nigerian Army’s 2026 recruitment for the 91st Regular Recruits Intake (RRI) is actively underway.
The screening exercise, which commenced on June 9, 2026 is being conducted in accordance with established military standards. Both the application and screening processes for the main intakes took place in the first half of the year.
A military source said that 40 ex-Boko Haram fighters sponsored by the Borno State government underwent medical examinations on Wednesday at the Nigerian Army 7 Division Military Hospital, Maimalari Cantonment, in Maiduguri as part of the screening process to join the Army.
“I can categorically confirm to you that the Borno State government brought forty repentant Boko Haram fighters who were shortlisted by the Army for their medical examinations during the week. Though some of them were rejected as not medically fit, most of them were screened to the next stage. It happened here at the 7 Division medical centre,” a serving Army Major said.
“It seems the repentant Boko Haram fighters are so special to the Borno State government. We are still surprised how they were shortlisted, because to join the Army, you need to provide documents such as a birth certificate or age declaration, educational certificates, a certificate of state of origin, and a recommendation letter or attestation from government officials, but these guys have none of this.”
“You can’t recruit people who haven’t finished secondary school simply because you want to compensate them. We hope the Borno State government hasn’t provided them with fake certificates to force them in as soldiers.”
Another officer, a Lieutenant, wondered how they were shortlisted in the first instance by the Nigerian Army.
“Yes, they all came for medicals this week, and this raises concern about the shortlisting process. It simply means convicted criminals can join the Army easily. They were all brought in by a bus provided by the Borno Government.”
Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province, have killed thousands and displaced millions in northeastern Nigeria.
The terrorists also attack critical infrastructure, and the insurgency has spread to other parts of the country, including Adamawa, Yobe, Abuja, and Kano.
The Nigerian military has repeatedly claimed that the insurgency has been largely defeated and frequently downplays any losses.
In recent months, soldiers have been targeted by insurgents.
More than 1,000 soldiers and officers have reportedly been killed since January 2021.
Earlier, Naija News House reported how some soldiers battling Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East accused the Borno State government of issuing a fresh directive compelling them to work alongside ‘repentant’ terrorists who were recently reintegrated into society under the state’s controversial deradicalisation programme.
