Nigeria president approves largest military expansion in recent times - BBC News

The government is under intense pressure to tackle a slew of armed groups, many of whom attack civilians.

Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesImage caption, The new army divisions will lead to better co-ordination and faster response times, the government says

Nigeria's president has approved the country's largest military expansion in recent times - an attempt to tackle the slew of security challenges plaguing the nation.

Bola Tinubu has greenlit the recruitment of 28,000 extra soldiers and the creation of four new army divisions, which will take the total number up to 12.

Nigeria's government is under intense pressure to curb the violence perpetrated by a variety of armed groups, including militant Islamists, separatists and gangs who kidnap civilians for ransom.

Over the past week, an armed gang killed at least 20 villagers in the north-western state of Zamfara and 46 students were abducted from a school in Borno state in the country's north-east.