Local media in Nigeria is reporting of an emerging tension within the army over the fight against militant group Boko Haram.
The tension is reportedly heightening among the top hierarchy of the military as they fear soldiers could stage a revolt.
PUNCH reports that “many of the soldiers, especially those at the war front, had been showing signs of agitation over the inability of the military high command to provide them with weapons and adequate welfare.”
Previous agitations
In August this year some Nigerian troops staged a protest at the airport in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri.
They shot into the air for hours agitating over their deployment to some communities to fight Boko Haram militants.
The soldiers were being posted to a restive part of Nigeria’s northeast to fight the militants who continue to wreak havoc.
They did not want to be redeployed from their base in Maiduguri, state capital of Borno, to Marte.
Senior officers worried
PUNCH quotes a senior officer as saying that “I can tell you without mincing words that many of us, officers, are afraid because the soldiers can revolt anytime from now. You will recall that some soldiers of the 21 Brigade in Sambisa Forest last year went on the rampage, revolting against their superiors.”
The potential revolt according to the officer quoted “only happens when the officers lose the trust of their men. The soldiers have been complaining about lack of weapons and welfare but their demands are being ignored. Always remember that whenever there is an attack, if 40 soldiers are killed, only two officers will be affected. This is because the soldiers are the ones at the battlefront.”
“If they feel they are being led to their death, they will rather revolt and save themselves rather than die. As it is, we are fearful of what may happen. We don’t want a Bangladeshi Rifle Revolt in Nigeria like it happened in 2009 in Bangladesh where soldiers killed 57 officers,” the officer told Punch.
War against Boko Haram
President Muhammadu Buhari’s government continues to struggle to defeat Boko Haram despite promising to do so.
Millions have been displaced by the activities of Boko Haram and thousands killed.
Soldiers and other security forces continue to be killed by these militants during combats and ambush attacks.
Several changes have been made within the Nigerian army as part of efforts at defeating the militants.
Source: Africafeeds.com
