Is the fear of bandits’ attack still very rife in Oyo State that it registered low turnout in the Nigerian army recruitment screening holding there?
This question has become necessary if feelers from the exercise is anything to go by.
The Eagle reports that although 941 applicants were shortlisted for the state, only 472 came out for the recruitment screening exercise.
This has made the Federal Character Commission (FCC) warn that the low turnout could affect efforts aimed at ensuring equitable representation of the state in federal recruitment processes.
The screening exercise held at the monitoring exercise at the 2 Mechanised Division, Adekunle Fajuyi Military Cantonment in Ibadan.
The FCC Commissioner representing Oyo State, Prince Ayodeji Abass Aleshinloye, expressed concern at the turnout of prospective recruits from Oyo State, especially against the background of the implications.
Notwithstanding, he has urged applicants whose documents required corrections or updates to take immediate steps to regularise them, advising candidates to liaise with their parents and guardians to obtain the necessary original documents.
Alashinloye noted that a significant number of applicants arrived at the screening centre without complete documentation.
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He disclosed that more than half of the shortlisted candidates failed to present their original credentials, while several others had discrepancies in their documents that required rectification.
Oyo State has been hard hit by bandits’ operations in the recent, and residents have become more wary about their safety.
It was not clear however whether the low turnout at the Nigerian army recruitment screening had anything to do with the activities of the bandits in the state.
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