Category: People

Dateline: Circa December 2017
Location: The Plains of Adamawa/Taraba Border, North East Nigeria

SOS messages got to Defense HQ that villages in a Numan and Demsa Local Government Area of Adamawa State was under attack by Herdsmen and scores had already been slaughtered by the rampaging lot while homes and farms were being set ablaze. Due to the terrain and the distance of these villages from the base of the military forces, HQ decided that the best way to act fast and decisively was to deploy its aerial capability.

Fortunately, the military operation in that area had been fortified with the deployment of an Alpha Jet and EC 135 Helicopter by the Nigerian Air Force, so it was not a problem. Pronto, these beauties were ordered to proceed to the affected areas & the necessary munitions loaded.

It was as if the stars were in alignment as the fighters in the crafts saw to their amazement hundreds of well armed Herdsmen in full combat gears, dressed in Black burning homes, razing farms and engaging in a killing spree. These Herdsmen were armed to the hilt. On sighting the crafts the Herdsmen started retreating. Meanwhile, the forces in the fighter jets had sort permission to engage. Surprisingly, the order was not given, curiously, HQ told them just to “scare” the Herdsmen but they should not shoot to kill. The forces started shooting wide. The Herdsmen on realizing that these forces were not targeting them became emboldened and started shooting at the jets. It was simply good fortune that none of the jets were shot down that day. The Herdsmen calmly took their herds and crossed over to the Taraba side of the border. An opportunity to neutralize hundreds of these blood thirsty criminals lost.

Fast forward to January this year, this time in Benue State, another SOS signal was received by HQ to the effect that hundreds of well armed Herdsmen had invaded Guma, Kwande and Gwer-west. Luckily, stationed in these areas were Special Forces and military personnel that had been drafted to provide security to these areas. However, as the marauding Herdsmen commenced their bloodletting and razing of villages, the military could only look on. Even when many ran to the outposts, they could not find succor there as they were mindlessly killed by the killer Herdsmen. The soldiers refused to raise a finger to stop the carnage for they were under strict orders not to shoot. After hours of brigandage, the Herdsmen left the villages leaving Sorrow, tears and blood in their wake.

In February of this year, intelligence had pinpointed the exact location of Shekau and troops had been mobilized in a daring operation to get the BH leader. Five miles from his location and having cordoned off any escape routes, troops got ready to move in for the final onslaught against the wanted murderer, but again, orders came from Operations Command to delay any further action. The BBC reported that the suspension lasted for two days; time enough for Shekau and his 200-300 fighters to flee from the area. Following the increase in the attacks by Herdsmen in the Middle-Belt, many prominent voices have been raised alluding to some hidden ethno -religious agenda by the Herdsmen to conquer territories and foist their religious beliefs on the entire country. My immediate response to that absurd conspiracy is to irritatingly dismiss it and I will not waste my precious time here trying to advance any further arguments to prove the extent of its absurdity. However, I am concerned that the military will allow festering, a crisis that is clearly capable of rocking the very foundations of the existence of Nigeria; the task of preventing this outcome at the core of the avowed goals of the tradition of a military that had to fight a civil war. It is my considered opinion that the security situation is seemingly becoming intractable for two reasons.

1) The erosion/destruction/compromise of professionalism in the military by the political class

2) The Military -Industrial Complex (read corruption). Ok fellas, let’s go for tea break. We will be revealing some things in the part two with data.

One of the greatest misfortunes of military rule in Nigeria, amongst its several ills was the destruction of professionalism. Due to the constancy of putsches, military rulers engaged in executions and wanton retirement of perceived and real enemies within their ranks, and replacing the retired or slain officers with their lackeys and cronies, hence altering the balance and sequence of promotions. Most times, those who were handed sensitive, lucrative and command positions were colleagues from the same ethnic stock as the C-in-C and his kitchen Coterie were also selected using same criteria. This tradition was deepened by the gap-toothed General and the late goggle wearing one. Professionalism was thrown overboard. This was the case until OBJ arrived. As many would remember, one of the deft moves of the Ebora Owu In the first few weeks of his administration was to order the retirement of every officer that had benefitted from political appointments during the interregnum. This singular move affected many from a section of the country who had been the main beneficiaries of cronyism. With this, some level of sanity started returning to the military institution. This sanity was important for a very critical reason. No institution in Nigeria embodies the unity of the country like the military. While the political class tends to abuse the federal character requirements of the Constitution, the military is the only institution in Nigeria that adheres to a very strict code of federal character in its recruitment especially at the officer Corps level. The NDA recruitment for example is limited to three persons per state based on Senatorial zones. Promotions within the military is so regimented that federal character balancing is done giving consideration to local governments. So, you may find it extremely difficult to see to Generals of equal ranks from the same local government were there are others within the same state yet to benefit. OBJ restored these traditions. Subsequent Presidents also maintained this tradition which saw the rise of an Igbo son, General Ihejirika, for the first time since the Civil War to the position of COAS. It is this professionalism that makes it difficult for the military to be fragmented along ethnic lines. Most times, the military Camaraderie finds senior officers from other zones or regions mentoring junior officers from different zones. This is because they know that they have more threat from individuals from same place as them rather than those from other regions. The military promotions system waits for no one and therefore, an officer could be overtaken by a junior officer from same place as him/her if they fail the tough exams. But this tradition is now under threat with PMB.

News of mass retirement of officers from certain sections of the country made the rounds shortly after the president’s ascension of office. To make matters worse, all the Service Chiefs but one that he has so far appointed is a ridicule of that fine military tradition of Unity.
These appointees, having read perfectly the body language of their C-in-C as regards the Herdsmen crises, a body language that I explained in an earlier thread, have simply refused to act decisively in dealing with the crises. The same military that acted swiftly to deal a mortal Blow to IPOB is now looking helpless. They certainly are not helpless. The political will from the political class is lacking.

To be continued…

Chima Amadi
@AMADICHIMA