Three Things New Theatre Commander Must Do To Stop Boko Haram

On Tuesday, July 31, 2018, the mantle of command of Operation Lafiya Dole was handed over by Major General Rogers Nicholas to Major General Abba Dikko at the Theatre Command Headquarters in Maiduguri.

The development followed the recent redeployment of senior officers by Army headquarters. Major General Nicholas was posted to the Nigerian Army Resource Centre. Force Commander MNJTF, Maj-Gen. Leo Irabor, was also affected by the postings and appointments which took effect from August 1, 2018.

The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Brig-Gen., Texas Chukwu, who announced the postings last week, said the exercise, which also re-organised and expanded the Operation Lafiya Dole was aimed at injecting new hands to further actualise the vision of the Chief of Army Staff COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai.

During the handover ceremony, Major General Nicholas urged the new Theatre Commander to carry everyone along in the fight against terrorism, to enable him succeed in his new assignment. He further enjoined all to accord the new Theatre commander the necessary support to facilitate efficient and effective operation against the insurgents.

Responding, Dikko stated that he was appreciative of opportunity vested on him to restore peace in the North East, which characterized the tenure of the immediate past Theatre commander. He urged all Security stake holders to strengthen the bond of relationship among them to further enhance the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the north east.

In other for the new Theatre Commander to actualise the goal of defeating the dreaded insurgents completely, THE WHISTLER analysts itemized three key areas that must be addressed immediately.

Welfare

The issue of welfare should be of utmost priority to the incoming commander, to avoid any form of mutiny, and would be as morale boost to the troops, who are in the frontlines of the war against insurgents.

In December 2016, Premium Times reported that Victor Ezegwu, the General Officer Commanding of the Nigerian Army 7 Division in Maimalari, escaped being lynched by rampaging Nigerian soldiers, who were enraged over poor welfare arrangement and alleged deceit by their commanders.

Specifically, they accused the commander of leaving them to fight for two days without food. Most of the soldiers involved in the mutiny were deployed to Sambisa from 21 Brigade in Bama, Borno State.

According to the report, the soldiers went from 9:00 a.m. on December 14 till 6:00 p.m. on December 15 without food.

A similar situation played out in Alagarno. At the time, troops fighting to take control of the town attempted to kill their GOC after they were left for five days without water.

“Unlike before, our allowances are not being paid in full. Instead of the N30,000 monthly allowance we used to get, we now get N15,000. Somebody is sitting comfortably in Abuja, stealing our money, and we are here facing Boko Haram fire every day. God will judge them,” a soldier who pleaded anonymity was quoted as saying by icirnigeria.org

“Many of us have to find means of buying food to supplement our ration. In this place, where we have to be alert 24 hours, where, sometimes, we go out for over 24 hours on military campaign, food should not be an issue. But they just don’t care,” another soldier, Adeleke, said.

Also, in the oppressive desert heat, Adeleke says soldiers officially get only three sachets of water to quench their thirst, a situation which leaves many of them thirsty and dehydrated most of the day.

Many of the soldiers alleged that the troops get only N15,000 out of the N30,000 due to them, accusing the field commanders of short changing them.

There have been repeated cases of mutiny by Nigerian soldiers since the war against Boko Haram began, and the Army has tried over 100 soldiers for the offence.

Weapons

In mid-2014, the militants gained control of swathes of territory in and around their home state of Borno, estimated at 50,000 square kilometres (20,000 sq mi) in January 2015, but did not capture the state capital, Maiduguri, where the group was originally based.

Just before the 2015 elections, it was alleged that the reason the insurgents gained momentum was due to lack of sophisticated weapons by the Nigerian military to combat the terrorists.

A panel appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari had alleged that former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuk diverted the $2.1 billion meant to procure arms to combat the Boko Haram insurgency for political campaign in a bid to ensure the re-election of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

Dasuki is currently being investigated by the federal government over the billions of dollars released for the procurement of arms for counter-terrorism operations under Jonathan.

It is believed that the arms and ammunition were either not purchased at all or that substandard ones were procured instead, reportedly leading to the death of many Nigerian soldiers in the hands of the better-equipped Boko Haram insurgents.

There were various media reports, both local and foreign, quoting unnamed Nigerian soldiers complaining about inadequate arms as well as poor welfare in the counter-terrorism war.

Thousands of soldiers deserted the military and those who refused to fight were court-martialled and handed jailed terms.

Reports had it then that the Nigerian Army court–martialled 18 soldiers involved in an alleged mutiny. According to the report, the rebellious soldiers were infuriated over the ambushing and killing of their colleagues by Boko Haram insurgents while returning from an operation.

Military sources said the General Officer Commanding, GOC, of the newly-created 7 Division, Ahmadu Mohammed, a Major General, was targeted by soldiers who blamed him for the deaths of their colleagues.

The attack in Maimalari cantonment, on May 14, humiliated the Nigerian military at a time the force came under international spotlight over the abduction of nearly 300 school girls in Chibok by the extremist Boko Haram sect.

Dikko must ensure scenarios like this don’t repeat itself, and always implore the federal government and other stakeholders to provide the troops with sophisticated arsenal.

Corruption

There are allegations in some quarters that the military commanders in the North-east are sabotaging the war against Boko Haram by stealing funds committed to the operation.

The icirnigeria.org quoted some unnamed soldiers as saying that the insurgents could be defeated in a matter of weeks, even days, but alleged that corruption and greed on the part of military big wigs will not let that happen.

It is believed that the corruption goes beyond the field commanders, as there are operational deficiencies militating against their efforts, which could not be without the knowledge of the defence high command in Abuja, the Nigerian capital.

It is alleged that though the government provides money for different battalion of troops to operate in different places, army commanders in the field ensure that up to two or three units share the same operational structure so as to save costs. The problem is that the money saved goes into the pockets of a few people, but the situation impacts negatively on welfare and morale of troops. It also ultimately undermines the campaign against terrorists.

Many have called for the review of the activities of the military in the fight against insurgency, with some calling for the sack of military chiefs.

Recently, the founder of Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to remove top military officers in charge of the fight against Boko Haram.

Fasehun alleged that the military is using the fight to steal huge funds from the government.

“Reports from soldiers and officers on the field indicated that Boko Haram could be wiped out easily but for colluding military commanders who want the campaign prolonged for selfish commercial benefits,” Fasehun said.

“President Buhari should sack military officers currently in charge of the (anti) Boko Haram campaign and mandate the defence team to end Boko Haram insurgency within six months.”

Though, the Army continues to deny the reports, it is necessary for the new commander to look into the allegations. As Shannon Alder said, “Your dignity can be mocked, abused, compromised, toyed with, lowered and even badmouthed, but it can never be taken from you. You have the power today to reset your boundaries, restore your image, start fresh with renewed values and rebuild what has happened to you in the past.”