By Gwurld4026 
Ex-Army Provost: 500,000 Troops Needed to Combat Insurgency
Retired Major-General Pat Akem-Vingir, a former Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Army, has emphasized the need for the Nigerian military to expand its personnel strength to at least 500,000 to effectively combat insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Currently, the Nigerian military comprises approximately 230,000 personnel. Akem-Vingir highlighted that while the military has achieved successes in various operations, the lack of sufficient manpower hinders the ability to hold and secure territories after clearing them of insurgents. He stated, “When you are fighting insurgency, you must capture ground and hold it. It takes troops to do that.”
He further noted that without adequate personnel to maintain a presence in liberated areas, insurgents often return, undermining the progress made. Akem-Vingir also called for the government to provide the military with the necessary equipment, training, and authority to decisively address security challenges.