Death Of Soldiers: Tell Us Why You’re Not A Failure, Ezekwesili Challenges Buhari

The presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari and his Service Chiefs to tell Nigerians why they haven’t failed the nation and close to 100 soldiers said to have been killed by Islamic militants, Boko Haram, last Sunday in Metele, Borno State.

The soldiers were said to have been killed following an attack on the military base of the 157 Task Force Battalion in the North-Eastern village by a faction of Boko Haram known as the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Speaking on the tragic event on Sunday, Dr Ezekwesili lamented the killing of the soldiers, saying the development casts a negative image for the nation’s security apparatus.

The ACPN presidential candidate also called on the military to release official figure of casualty recorded in the attack as there have been conflicting figures in the media.

Ezekwesili said, “There are pertinent questions that the Federal Government and the military need to answer. How did this latest in a series of killings of our soldiers in frontline of battle catch our country off-guard? Don’t we think the official line that the Presidency and military have been pushing on the state of the terrorism war is endangering our soldiers and nation? Can the government be more honest on the challenges it appears to be facing in prosecuting the war?

“It is no longer acceptable for our heroes to die and not be accorded the honour of gallantry. The FG and the military must accord full military burial rites to the fallen soldiers and also publish the list of others who have died and had been buried discretely in recent times without giving the Nigerian people the opportunity to celebrate their gallantry.

“The FG should immediately take measures to protect and preserve our soldiers, military establishments, our people and territory to avoid further deaths. It is time for a review of current operational strategy being used to prosecute the war. It is also high time that our Intel was revamped.

“FG must take measures to assess the failure of leadership of the Service Chiefs – performance, accountability and consequence has been missing for far too long and must now change.

“We express our sympathy and condolence to the families and loved ones of the departed soldiers. They are another set of heroes who have sacrificed their lives for others to live. This calls for a sober reflection and declaration of mourning days by the government.

“Nigeria security operatives need to do more on intelligence gathering. It is one of the key apparatus that must not be missing while fighting terrorists.”

The presidential candidate added, “The recent killing is a tragic and saddening occurrence and we pray to God to give the deceased family the fortitude to bear the loss.”