Insecurity: Imperative of Boosting Troops’ Morale
By Abdulsalam Mahmud
This reflection will be heralded in an unusual style. And having dropped the caveat, Iet’s begin this way: “suspected Boko Haram insurgents have killed 17 youths in Gurokayeya village, Geidam LGA of Yobe State, over failure to pay tax. Daily Trust learnt that the insurgents stormed the village around 10pm on Monday, gathered the residents in one place and executed selective killings.
“They selected 21 youths who were between the ages of 20 to 30 and shot them at close range, while young children and the old were spared. Seventeen died instantly, while the remaining four were rushed to the hospital in critical conditions,” a security source had told Daily Trust’s correspondent.
“According to the source, the insurgents took the measure after several warnings to the villagers to pay their taxes but to no avail. “After the heinous act, they handed another stern warning to the villagers on the consequences of tax evasion before they left,” he said”. This was published on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, by Daily Trust newspaper.
Then: “Ondo State security outfit, codenamed Amotekun, yesterday, said that no fewer than 20 commercial motorcyclists have been killed and their motorcycles stolen within three weeks, across the state. It’s commander, Adetunji Adeleye, who expressed worry over the ugly development, said it was rampant in Akure, the state capital.
“Adeleye, who reiterated the security outfit’s determination to reduce all acts of criminal activities to the barest minimum during the yuletide season, advised against riding motorcycles at night. Adeleye, who paraded 11 criminal suspects, arrested with locally-made weapons, said that the corp had commenced 2023/2024 Ember Border Patrol activities”. This was published on Thursday, November 2, 2023, by Vanguard newspaper.
And also on the same Vanguard of November 2, is this: “Gunmen have attacked and destroyed farm settlements at Oluwa Forest Reserve, in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State. The gunmen allegedly invaded the settlement and destroyed the cocoa plantations in Temidire”.
The Punch newspaper of Tuesday, November 7, 2023, reported: “The Katsina State Police Command, on Monday, confirmed that seven people were killed while 16 others were injured by bandits who stormed a religious occasion in Kusa town, Musawa Local Government Area of the state. According to the police, the bandits stormed the gathering a few minutes after 10 pm on Sunday and fired several gunshots at those attending the occasion”.
In a related development, the Leadership newspaper of November 7, 2023, in one of its published stories, reported that suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked and killed 15 Zabarmari rice farmers in Mafa local government area of Borno State.
With all of these disconcerting stories (shared above), my heart is filled with anguish and deep sorrow over the worthlessness of human lives in our clime. But a few days back, I became ecstatic while reading a statement issued by the Nigerian Army spokesperson, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu. The statement, titled DON’T LET OUR NATION DOWN” – DEFENCE CHIEF TELLS TROOPS,” was issued on Monday.
Here is the text of the statement: “The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Christopher Musa, has called on Commanders and troops of the Nigerian Army (NA) to not let the nation down in the ongoing efforts to quell emerging security challenges across the country. The Defence Chief gave the charge, after he was briefed on operational engagements of troops in various theatres of operations in the country, at the Army Headquarters Operations Centre, during a visit to the Army Headquarters on Monday 6 November 2023.
“Remarking further after receiving a comprehensive operations brief, Gen Musa commended the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, Principal Staff Officers, Field Commanders and troops for their dedication and sacrifice, adding, that military service is a selfless service to humanity and must statutorily support civil authorities.
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“The CDS admonished Commanders at all levels to be focused, committed and professional in steering the affairs of their various commands to expedite the restoration of peace and stability in the country. He charged them to lead by example and provide result oriented leadership and mentorship to the junior leaders of the Nigerian Army.
“Gen Musa urged the troops of the NA to remain resilient and ensure jointness and inter-agency cooperation in the conduct of their operations to mitigate security challenges. He assured the troops of the support of the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He appreciated the President for his interventions in the Armed Forces of Nigeria, since his assumption of office.
“He charged the troops to support the lead agency in the forth coming elections and strictly adhere to the codes of conduct guiding troops’ roles during polls”. Apparently, there is nothing about the release – in terms of having any good pronouncement – that will jolt someone to be in cloud nine.
However, the import of Gen. Musa’s remark to the personnel of the army during his visit to the Army Headquarters, is clear. One, it shows that like other Nigerians, the Defence Chief is confident that our army troops can quell the lingering insecurity, holding the country to ransom – particularly if they are well motivated.
But more importantly, the charge by Gen. Musa, that army Commanders and troops should not let the nation down, tacitly implies that citizens have hugely invested their hopes on the military to tackle the nation’s security challenges, warts and all. Therefore, our soldiers, especially those in the frontline, cannot afford to lose the battle they have long waged against terror elements.
If the truth must be told however, our gallant troops have contributed immensely in ensuring that the country’s corporate existence is safeguarded. They have since usurped (albeit not deliberately and forcefully) the mandate of the Nigerian Police and other security agencies to tackle all kinds of internal unrest.
Military troops are everywhere in the North East, North West and North Central fighting armed bandits, Boko Haram terrorists and insurgents of the Islamic State of West African Province, ISWAP. They are also locking horns with unknown gunmen/IPOB terrorists in the South East; oil thieves in the South South and marauding herders in some parts of the South West.
Nigerian military forces have, in recent years, eliminated prominent terrorist leaders and Commanders such as Abubakar Shekau, Abu Mushab Albarnawi, Fiya Abouzeid, Qaïd Abou Oumama, Qaïd Malam Moustapha, and Abubakar Dan-Buduma. In addition, aggressive onslaughts by troops have forced many Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists, together with their families, to renounce extremism and surrender, as widely reported by the media.
But there is still a whole lot of work to be done, to purge Nigeria of insecurity. Our troops must be equipped with modern firearms and ammunition that will neutralize those wielded by the nation’s adversaries. The government and authorities of the Nigerian should prioritize boosting our troops’ morale.
The easiest way to do so is by ensuring that our soldiers are not owed arrears of their salaries and allowances, for whatever reason. The government and military hierarchy must also prioritize catering for the health needs of our wounded troops, injured in the battlefields.
Several officers and men of our armed forces, whose combat exploits are renowned, should also get automatic promotion for displaying unyielding courage, fearlessness and gallantry against our common adversaries – terrorists and other violent criminals. National Honours Awards should also be extended to them, together with mouth-watering financial and moral incentives.
Doing everything possible to put smiles on the faces of our military personnel is fundamentally necessary, especially at this critical period. It will, primarily among other things, embolden them to take on every band of criminals that have declared war against the Nigerian State and its peace-loving citizens.
*Mahmud is the Deputy Editor of PRNigeria, and wrote in via: [email protected].*
