Insurgency: Equipping The Troops

A recent report that some Nigerian sol
diers spoke to the British Broadcast
ing Corporation (BBC) about the fight  against insurgency in Nigeria is quite  unsettling. Even absurd is the  allegation that the Nigerian government  had failed to  equip them properly to face the terrorists.
It is an abomination for  soldiers to  protest the way they did and to have  suggested that they were given un-serviceable  armoured cars to confront  Boko Haram insurgents. This is the highest form of indiscipline, cowardice and endangerment of lives and property  in one’s  own country.
Although the  Chief of Army Staff  (COAS)had warned against mutiny  as it carries capital  punishment, this is one matter that should not be treated with levity. The Federal Government must act fast to expose the plot behind this repeated  protest by soldiers posted to the North-East.
At a time the military  authorities have already listed 100 soldiers for trial, this fresh wave of dis-obedience can only point  to more issues  than the mutineers may be expressing. The Nigerian military has a wonderful record internationally and cowardice has never been an issue.
Under no circumstance would the insurgents over-power the well -trained, tested and professional military. The insurgents are barely trained and adopt a shameful tactics of attacking soft targets, pretending to be non-combatants only to do what is known as “hit and run”.
These are not the  gang that can scare the Nigerian military if some  waters have not passed under the bridge. Either the theory  of Boko Haram infiltrating the government and the military is a factor or the negative propaganda  by some highly placed Nigerians that Boko Haram  is better  equipped and motivated is taking a toll on some persons.
In the first place, we find it most lawless for a soldier to speak to the press, especially a foreign media. Again, what would such soldier hope to gain by running down his country and sowing fears in the minds of fellow soldiers. This must be followed to a logical conclusion.
Even so, we cannot support any action or inaction that would put the life of any soldier in harms way, especially in circumstances that the balance of fire-power may not be in reasonable proportion. Again,  the authorities must  get to the bottom  of this and allay  the fears of our men and women in the military.
We cannot believe that Nigeria cannot effectively arm her military  to confront this security emergency. With military formations and armoury across the country, Nigeria cannot be said to lack serviceable equipment   except some persons are failing to issue the right arms  to the soldiers, a reason many will want to know.
Even as we  condemn the actions of the soldiers involved in the mutiny, we think that some Nigerians should also be called to order over comments  that tend to glorify Boko Haram and the prowess  they do not possess.
It is sad that some persons have seen it as fashionable to politicise  nearly every thing in Nigeria. Even those who may be having issues with the present government must know where to draw the line. In times of security emergencies,   everyone must come together because it is the life of  the people  and image of  the country that is at stake.
In times of security emergencies people don’t talk about troop  movement, military strategies and capabilities. People who dare it are taken in for felony. But in Nigeria some persons even go the miles to discourage the military from doing their duty.
While we expect the military to look beyond the blackmail from some mis-guided  persons and dislodge the insurgents,  everything that the soldiers need  to do their job, both in terms of logistics  and  weapons  should be released immediately.