26th August, 2014
Some Nigerians have described as half-truth the claim by the military authorities that the 480 soldiers who were found in Cameroon, as reported on Monday by the BBC, did not flee the danger zones of Nigeria’s Borno state, but engaged in “tactical maneuver”.
While some commended the soldiers for doing their best in spite of the heavy challenges they have had to face from the government, others knocked successive governments for destroying the military, saying this continued destruction has resulted in the poor showing of the military in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency.
The Defence Headquarters, DHQ, had said on Monday that the soldiers sent to fight terrorism in Borno actually fought their way only to find themselves in the Cameroonian soil as opposed to initial report that the soldiers actually fled the heat from the insurgents.
“The Nigerian troops that were found in Cameroun was as a result of a sustained battle between the troops and the terrorists around the borders with Cameroun which saw the Nigerian troops charging through the borders in a tactical maneuver. Eventually they found themselves on Camerounian soil.
“Being allies the normal protocol of managing such incident demanded that the troops submit their weapons in order to assure the friendly country that they were not on a hostile mission,” the DHQ said.
Speaking with P.M.NEWS on the telephone, a social commentator and analyst, Abiodun Sowunmi, said the fleeing of the soldiers and the subsequent reaction of the DHQ showed that the country had been fed with half truths all along.
He said Nigerians were the first casualties of the fight against the Boko Haram insurgents because of the lack of openness concerning matters of security.
“We’ve heard cases of the military claiming it had killed Abubakar Shekau only for the man to resurface,” he said, lamenting that it had become difficult for Nigerians to establish the truth.
Sowunmi also recalled how the Transparency International accused the military of human rights abuses in the fight against terrorism and how the military promised to investigate the claim.
He urged the military authorities to come out with its true status so that the government would have no choice than to resolve every of its challenge.
Olusegun Olulade, the chairman, Lagos House of Assembly Committee on Information and Security, blamed the government for making the Nigerian military lose professionalism.
He said the military had been downgraded to covering elections, arguing that until the integrity in the military is returned, the problems would continue to exist.
Those who also reacted on the Facebook wall of the DHQ were sharply divided with some slamming the military for allegedly lying to Nigerians and others commending the soldiers.
For example, Edekin Eery Aderorho called it good news. “Islamic Boko Haram will soon face the wrath of God,” he said.
Shehu Umar said “the tactics the soldiers used was a wise one. If you realise your enemies have overpowered you, you do not keep fighting foolishly, you withdraw to improve your tactics…I commend them for their effort in trying to restore peace to this country.”
Abubakar Atiku Kende simply asked the soldiers be motivated as this is the only way they can be successful in the fight against terrorism.
Naasirudeen Sani declared: “All the lies and propaganda on the media by the government could worsen our situation and cause a lot of damage to us as a nation. Let us faces the reality and stop these lies.”
While Rilwanu Saidu Wasagu said Nigerians were solidly behind the troops, Okechukwu Obiora George wondered what the Nigerian Airforce was doing about the situation.
Akuine Uchenna Nobert simply declared: “my dear, please run for your dear lives; don’t mind those people that cannot even stand ordinary peaceful demonstration.”
Edwin Samson said: “Nigerian Army really need to do a very good homework to contain what is happening. N130 billion has been spent on the military, yet you see them confronting these deadly insurgents with age old AK-47 rifles..
“Truly, our military need a complete overhaul in terms of weapons, intelligence, and employ the use of the most recent technologies. Our soldiers must be properly trained. In fact, the Nigerian soldier must in all respects be similar with IDF of Israel. It is time we stopped playing politics with this insurgency problem.”
Peter Otono said: “what a shame to the giant of Africa? I am ashamed to be a Nigerian.”
Abubakar Aliyu Doma called the reaction of the DHQ a “blatant lie! The day we accept the reality and stop fabricating lies, the day we shall make a positive headway!!!”
Joe Ow Steve simply called the military reaction a “perfect excuse!”
But Tony V. Adole said there could be some element of truth in what the DHQ said, “because those people are escaping. There is no way the troop will be intact while fleeing.
But Debo Kayode Ogunranti asked: “why did they stray into Cameroon? Why, after all these years, don’t the Nigerian Army have a joint protocol with Cameroun to fight BH? Why was it the Army that the Cameroonians arrested and not the Boko Haram?”
Chris Noble Ochiagha declared: “Chai, they are no longer our gallant soldiers, the glory has departed. God save us.”
Samuel Samson asked: “Why these lies DHQ? We all want to support our men facing the bullets on our behalf but the cheap lies being dished out time and again by DHQ are so childish that nobody believes you anymore.
“Tell us the true situation of things and we will back you. You are our only unifying institution but something has gone wrong. Tell us the truth and not these endless lies.”