Nigerian Army Soldiers Ill-Equipped, Betrayed By Commanders, Authorities
Soldiers of the Nigerian Army who are fighting Boko Haram terrorists express growing dissatisfaction with their commanding officers and political authorities, especially with Defense Minister Aliyu Gusau.
Sahara Reporters' jouralists have interwieved soldiers in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states - the ones under the emergency rule since May, 2013. It has become known today that the House of Representatives have voted in favour of the rule extension in three states, despite strong opposition from the states' governors. It is up to the Senate to make the final decision on Tuesday.
The interviewed soldiers say, although they battle terrorism in Nigeria, the goals and strategies of this war remain obscure.
Poor conditions, low morale
The soldiers' weapons and equipment are faulty, inadequate and do not match those of Boko Haram terrorists. Soldiers are sometimes forced to flee their barracks because they are being overpowered.
One retired Army officer suggested investigating the purchase of weapons and equipment for Nigeria's security agencies and armed forces, as soldiers are exposed to serious danger because of the defective bulletproof vests, helmets, tanks and other hardware. The source said the Defense Minister and other officials responsible for such purhcases should explain their choices and disclose their cost.
The soldiers' living conditions are also nothing to write home about. The soldiers have to sleep in the open and on the ground, their meals and water are of poor quality. The allowances are delayed and often not paid at all.
The interviewed soldiers also disclosed that those who die in battle are hurriedly buried in shallow graves, and the authorities would not even inform their families of the loss. Also, they accused the military and political authorities in Abuja of concealing information about the mounting military and civilian casualties from Boko Haram attacks.
No rescue operations?
The silence of Aliyu Gusau over the Chibok girls' abduction by Boko Haram has raised many questions. Foreign correspondents in Abuja are amazed that Gusau has refused all interview requests.
A foreign correspondent told Sahara Reporters that some of President Goodluck Jonathan's closest aides are voicing their displeasure with Gusau's leadership and wonder how the Defence Ministry uses its lavish budget which tops $6 billion.
Izge-based soldiers also have denied the fact that military authorities have ordered to launch a search for the abducted Chibok girls. According to the soldiers, they never responded to the crisis. Just as they started a mission to apprehend several vehicles apparently carrying the abducted students, an order came for them to pull back. Local vigilante groups, not the military, have led the efforts to find and rescue the abducted students.
Foreign help welcome
The interviewed soldiers said they welcomed the help by the U.S., Britain, France and other countries. They believe human expertise and surveillance equipment offered by the foreign powers could change the course and outcome of the long-drawn war against terrorism.
It is worth noting that most of the soldiers do not believe that the Boko Haram insurgents have infiltrated the Army or that their fellow soldiers could be leaking information to the sect. Some, however, indicated that their commanders might have lines of communication through which they reveal military operations to them.
Source: Legit.ng
