Troops begin lobbying to get deployed away from northeast as Boko Haram steps up its attacks

SOLDIERS assigned to serve Nigeria's troubled northeast geo-political zone where Boko Haram has stepped up its presence lately have begun lobbying the military high command to be deployed elsewhere.

Since 2009, Boko Haram has been waging war of insurgency against Nigeria and at one stage controlled as many as 13 local government areas in Borno and Yobe states. Since 2014, the terrorists have been reigned back but over recent weeks, Boko Haram appeared to have revived itself again, carrying out daring raids against military formations in Borno State.

Over the last few weeks, Boko Haram has attacked military formations in Metele, Kangarwa, Malumfatori and Arge in Borno State. It has also launched offensives in the Buni Gari area of Yobe State, prompting soldiers to avoid postings to the volatile region, while those already serving there are seeking to get redeployed.

One brigadier said: “In the military doctrine, we have what is called cowardice and soldiers can exhibit cowardice when they hear negative reports. Let me tell you why we have been experiencing attacks in those Lake Chad areas, so army deployments were intentionally made around Lake Chad to block the Boko Haram’s channels of supply.

"Boko Haram understands why the military are blocking their channels and they therefore ensure they keep attacking those bases to open up their own channels of supply. There is a way some people have been glorifying the attacks and this makes the soldiers who are there to be afraid.

"These are very young military officers with families and they can be afraid. Most times when I as a general say I am on my way to the northeast, I get messages from friends and family to say be careful but I am going under escort, so imagine soldiers who are just deployed to actually go and fight."

He added that some reports are not helpful because they are putting fear in soldiers, prompting them to avoid the northeast like it was a disease. According to the officer, many media reports reaching soldiers in the northeast are disturbing and affecting their morale.

One colonel added:  “Soldiers are trained to die in the course of defending the country’s territorial integrity but not when you die because there are no adequate equipment. The terrorists know how to strike because they have informants who leak the strengths and weaknesses of the army to them.

“Since there is no specific time frame for soldiers serving in the northeast, some of them are disgruntled and they are lobbying not to be posted there. The increasing attacks in the northeast are dampening the morale of troops and this is why the military authorities usually send the service chiefs to visit and talk to them.”