In 2019, a retired Nigerian Army General, Theophilus Y. Danjuma, had advised Nigerians to take up arms and defend themselves against terrori...
In 2019, a retired Nigerian Army General, Theophilus Y. Danjuma, had advised Nigerians to take up arms and defend themselves against terrorists' attacks. In 2018, the former Minister of Defence made a similar demand, pitting himself against President Muhammadu Buhari's administration. There have been public accusations that elements within Nigeria's military top brass and the Government have helped terrorist groups against the Nigerian soldiers.
In his goodwill letter to Aku Uka of Wukari in Taraba State, he said that the Armed Forces were either unwilling to defend the country or that Nigeria was under siege. "The armed forces are not neutral. They collude with the armed bandits. They kill people, kill Nigerians. They facilitate their movements, they cover them," Danjuma had said.
He expressed regret that Nigeria, the world's largest black country, was under siege by terrorists seeking to expel its inhabitants.
"As a soldier, the best defence is attack. Right now, we are all sitting ducks. These people are armed to the teeth with weapons of mass destruction, but we don't have them. We have the numbers, and the land belongs to us. They are trying to colonize us and take over our lands. Your majesty, you must unite our people to defend themselves.
Recently, a THISDAY report cited field commanders saying "unpatriotic personnel of the Hybrid Forces are colluding with terrorists to sabotage the war". A former Air Force officer told BusinessDay that some officers have been caught selling weapons meant for front‑line units to Boko Haram. The Defence Chief had warned that such betrayals are under investigation and that the army is taking steps to sensitize troops and root out Corruption.
A Broader commentary Observers, like law professor Sam Amadi, argued that the Government's silence on certain terror‑related issues can be interpreted as complicity, suggesting that political and religious biases may be influencing the country's security. Many times, the lives of soldiers were cut short not due to their inability to fight terrorism, but through the betrayal by those who sent them to the battlefield. The Armed Forces were either unwilling to defend the country or believed that Nigeria was under siege.
There have been countless times when Boko Haram has laid an ambush for gallant Soldiers on duty. Most recent one, about a week ago, Boko Haram during an attack killed the commanding officer of the 202 Tank Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Paiko, alongside several soldiers in the Kashimri Area of Bama local government, Bornu state. These gallant men lost their lives defending their country, unknown to them that the Government that sent them on the mission presented them before their enemies as scapegoats.
The blood of these innocent soldiers spilt by the complicity of the Government of Nigeria and top military officers for political gains will continue to haunt them till justice is served.
We welcome Donald Trump to the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern CPC and we welcome his promise to come into Nigeria Guns Blazing and put an end to the corruption and terrorism going on for several decades.
Written by
Mazi Udodi
For
Imo State Media Team
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