Double Jeopardy for the Armed Forces of Nigeria in a Democracy

“Unite for the public safety, if you would remain an independent nation.”- Napoleon I

The responsibility of every government, as enshrined in the 1999 constitution of Nigeria, is first and foremost, the security of lives of the citizens and their welfare. This important assignment is expected to be carried out by professionals in the area of security of the territorial integrity of the country, as well as the internal affairs of the country. The two major agencies of government saddled with the responsibility of securing the country are the military and the police. The military comprises of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force. The Nigerian Army is the land force of the Nigerian Armed Forces. As far as the security matters are concerned within the Nigerian space, the police is the lead agency that is expected to be civil in its operations, most especially because it relates directly with the citizens, and it is therefore, trained to be civil in its methods and forms of engagements. The Nigerian Armed Forces, especially the Army, is reputed to be one of the finest in Africa and is also well respected among the committee of Nations, especially because of the feats achieved during international engagements.

The Nigerian Army, being the land force of the Nigerian Armed Forces has a history of excellence and great accomplishments, especially in international engagements. Tracing its history to British colonial forces in West Africa, it is the largest component of the armed forces. The President of Nigeria is the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, and its professional head is the Chief of Defence Staff, who is the highest ranking military officer of the Nigerian Armed Forces, while the Chief of Army Staff, is the highest ranking officer of the Nigerian Army. The Nigerian Army is operationally and geographically divided into ten divisions, the basic field formation. The army has been involved in operations throughout the country, most especially during the Nigerian Civil War, and has undertaken major operations abroad. Nigeria Army officers have served as chiefs of defence in other countries with Brigadier General Maxwell Khobe serving as Sierra Leone chief of staff in 1998-1999, and Nigerian officers acting as Command Officer-in-Charge of the Armed Forces of Liberia from at least 2007.

“Nigeria claimed to have contributed more than twenty thousand troops and police officers to various UN missions since 1960. The Nigeria Police Force and troops have served in places like UNIPOM (UN India-Pakistan Observer mission) 1965, UNIFIL in Lebanon 1978, the UN observer mission, UNIIMOG supervising the Iran-Iraq ceasefire in 1988, former Yugoslavia 1998, East Timor 1999, and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) 2004. In October 2004, Nigerian troops were deployed into Darfur, Sudan to spearhead an African Union force to protect civilians there. In January 2013, Nigeria began to deploy troops to Mali as part of the African-led International Support Mission to Mali.”

The resounding victories and exploits that the Nigerian Army had made possible outside the country through its various operations in the past must have been responsible for the charge given to the military by one of its own, a retired General, by name Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, who was speaking in one of his public engagements, where he said:

“Number one problem today is security. We must end the banditry and the killings that are going on in our country, as soon as possible. The responsibilities are on your shoulders, those of you who are still serving, no excuses, absolutely no excuses.”

The instruction contained in the message of the elder statesman, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, who himself was the Chief of Army Staff from July 1975 to October 1978, and the Minister of Defence under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, to the Nigerian Army was quite revealing, especially when viewed in the context of why the problem of insurgency, which started in Nigeria when Boko Haram, an Islamic sectarian movement, carried out assassinations and large-scale acts of violence in the country in 2009, and has continued growing in size and impact till date, and given rise to banditry in the form of kidnapping of Nigerians for ransom. Recall also, that there are so many sides to why the problem of insurgency, which began with Boko Haram and has metamorphosed into banditry, seems intractable in spite of all the efforts of the Nigerian military towards the eradication of the problem.

It was late General Sani Abacha, who once said that if there is the problem of insurgency in the country that last for more than 24 hours, then the truth is that there is the hand of the government of that country in it. This therefore alludes to why in many quarters it is believed that there are people of timber and caliber, both within and outside the administration of the former President Mohammadu Buhari and that of the present administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who are the sponsors and the masterminds of what we have today in Nigeria as insurgency and banditry. Insecurity in Nigeria is believed to be a lucrative business and that is why ending it is, despite the number of lives of innocent citizens that it has claimed, is not in view. There is no gainsaying these facts, especially when the counter arguments between the incumbent governor of Zamfara State, His Excellency Dauda Lawal, and his predecessor, who is now the minister of State for Defence, His Excellency Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle, on who is complicit in matters of aiding and abetting insurgency in Zamfara State, are brought to the front burner. The Africa report stated that “Governor Dauda Lawal says his predecessor and current defence minister, Bello Matawalle, is a bandits’ sponsor and is undermining efforts to find a solution to the insecurity crisis.” This is just one of the revelations on why banditry and insurgency have become a nightmare and why if things are allowed to go on the way they have always been, seeing the end of them will remain a mirage.

Another pointer to why the war against insurgency and banditry in Nigeria fits in for description as chasing the shadow or a chase of the wild goose, is the seemingly lack of political will on the part of the government to do the needful in the areas of boosting the morale of the military personnel, who are the fighters against the terrorists and the bandits. It is worthy of note also that the circumstances surrounding the sudden and tragic death of the former charismatic Chief of Army Staff, General Ibrahim Attahiru, who died in a plane crash, which still remain a mystery to be unraveled till date, allude to the alleged involvement of the government in enhancing the problem of insecurity in Nigeria.

The revelation from a former General Officer Commanding (GOC), Danjuma Ali-Keffi, in his interview with Premium Times, about the circumstances surrounding the death of the late Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru, is very instructive.

“A former General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army, Danjuma Ali-Keffi, has asked President Bola Tinubu to investigate the death of the former Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru, in a plane crash, which he linked to terror financiers in the country. He also petitioned the president over his ‘illegal arrest’, detention and compulsory retirement from service for allegedly exposing how top officials were involved in terror financing during the administration of former President Mohammadu Buhari. Mr Ali-Keffi, initially scheduled to receive the late army chief as GOC before the plane crash, pointed to significant deviations in the plans for Mr Attahiru’s trip. These included an unexpected change in travel time, a switch in aircraft, a shift in the landing airport from a military airstrip to the Kaduna International Airport, the landing occurring in turbulent and stormy weather, and a preceding ear-shattering explosion before the crash”.

For more on this minding-blowing revelation about the circumstances surrounding the death of the former Chief of Army Staff, visit Premium Times website, and look for the article titled Retired General Reveals Shocking Details of Plane Crash that Killed Nigeria’s Ex-Army Chief released on January 22, 2024.

Going forward, the observation is that the current Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who also is from Kaduna State, where the late former Chief of Army Staff was from, is as charismatic as the former Chief of Army Staff, as well as passionate about getting rid of the insurgents and bandits, who are the troublers on Nigeria. However, the question remains as why he is the one seen playing the role of the Chief of Army Staff, General Taoreed Lagbaja, and not playing the role of the former Chief of Defence Staff, during the administration of former President Buhari, General Lucky Irabor retired. As things are currently, with the clout of General Christopher Musa, and his burning passion about an insurgency and banditry free Nigeria, except he is also complicit and a good player in the game of the enhancement of insecurity, he might be the next target, as the case was with the former Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru. However, let this wise saying suffice and in respect of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, that “surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird” (Proverbs 1:17).

Every professional and perspective warrior knows that it is dangerous to fight a war from two fronts. The reality is that as the Nigerian Army is fighting against insurgency and banditry from one front, there is another war being fought against it from the government, who believes that not keeping the Army busy is a risk, going by the history of military coups against civilian administrations in Nigeria. This is why the situation with the Nigerian Armed Forces in relation to the war against insurgency and banditry, fits in for description as double jeopardy. It is the believe of the democratic government, especially in Nigeria, that not keeping the members of the Armed Forces busy, makes them idle, and as the saying goes, an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. To avoid having the military throw a spanner in the works of the civilian administration, it becomes necessary to keep them busy, hence, the enhancement of the insurgency and banditry that have for a long time pervaded the Nigerians space and of which a solution or ending time is not in view. We are admonished by a Russian proverb that suggests that “we should fear the goat from the front, the horse from the rare, and the man from all sides.”

It is now evidently clear that the retired General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma who charged the Nigerian military to end the problem of insurgency and banditry as soon as possible and no excuses are tenable, was actually speaking from the position of knowledge and understanding. Truly, there should be no excuses to ending the problem of insecurity in Nigeria, had the military not been fighting the war against the insurgents and the bandits from two fronts. There is a conversation that has been going on about the pitiable service condition of the military personnel for some time now and one of them was championed by the News Central in an interview with Mr. Roy Okhidievbie. Unfortunately, this conversation reached its climax on a sad note where a pronouncement that there may not be the Army celebration day in 2025, because of the lack of motivation on the path of the Army, who have nothing to celebrate about, was made.

The interview granted to the News Central and culled from its Youtube channel, in relation to the reasons why the soldiers resign in their numbers and what becomes of them after they leave, as well as probable solutions to mitigate the sufferings of both the serving and the non-serving personnel, intended to assuage their feelings, is quite revealing and educative.

“One thing we don’t value in Nigeria is content and future utilization. One of the things that destroys our interest in the Nigerian military to continue to serve, is the exit plans that is obvious to everyone. The moment you are leaving the service, there is no other thing for you, and soldiers are the most loyal in the world because you can never see the highest of statistics of military veterans that are involved in criminal activities in Nigeria. It is very minimal. If you look at the officer cadre, they leave also but you cannot see that statistics. And one of the instances when they leave is when the junior officer is promoted to be the Chief of Army Staff and all his superiors are retired unceremoniously and this thing destroys the morale of the troops. There is always a transition plan like the SDA-Security Department Allowance, it is an allowance that is supposed to be paid to you in bulk, that you are supposed to go into other economic activities with, for yourself and family. But as I speak to you, they have trickled it to 3 years and sometimes they pay you every quarter, like 20,000 or something, and that is an economic plan for you. Another thing is your medical/health plan. So many soldiers that got injuries during battles in Nigeria within Nigeria, are exited from military plans. We have seen a lot of downgraded medical attention for military veterans. Then your housing, so many people want to steal and get housing for themselves, because when you come out, you are trying to live among the bandits and criminals whom you were fighting against when you were in service. Also, your children don’t have scholarship, you see politicians giving scholarship to orphans and all that, the soldier’s children, the ones that died. What a soldier carries immediately he wears his uniform is patriotism. The mental health reform system that is given to Boko Haram in deradicalization, soldiers don’t see it. Even soldiers that came from frontline and have been there for 3-4 years are supposed to be redeployed and reshuffled frequently. On the topic of mental health, there is no capacity building for mental health. The medical system in Nigeria for Nigerian military does not have the medical mental process, where you get trauma care for yourself. Even the one UN brought is diverted for personal interest.”

On the solution to the problems confronting the Nigerian Army, “The first thing they need to look at is the exit plan. Why will I want to risk my life for the country… At the banks, they should be given consideration for loans to start businesses. At medical places, they should be given the highest level of medical attention. Their wives and children should be recognized in all the palliatives that is going on. Palliatives have been given to civilians, citizens, now military people are still in queue for their own palliative, begging and protesting every day.  In Nigeria, there is not going to be an Armed Forces Remembrance day in 2025. All of us outside Nigeria are coming back into Nigeria. It is going to be peaceful, but there will not be Armed Forces Remembrance day in 2025, January.”

Furthermore, in what seemed like a positive response to the charge given by the Elder Statesman, General T.Y. Danjuma retired, to the Nigerian military, on ending insurgency and banditry in Nigeria as soon as possible, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, on Arise TV Prime Time, bared his mind on what the hinders to their efforts toward ending the menace of insurgency and banditry are in Nigeria, but also gave assurances that all hope is not lost for the country.

On the factors that contributed to the successes recorded in the Northwest, the Chief of Defence Staff says

“I think it is the support we are getting from the federal government, state government, local government, and from Nigerians in general. We’ve said it over and over that we cannot do this alone without the support of the citizens and that is very critical, and that is what we are getting. We are bringing out the experiences we have in the Northeast, where we have succeeded so much, to the wider front to North Central and Northwest. The operations are holistic. Fighting insurgency is all of the society’s approach, everybody has a role to play and I’m glad that the citizens have understood that and have given us the needed support because we cannot be everywhere. We need the support of market women, motor park managements, the local authority, the religious leaders, everyone has a role to play. We always appeal, when you see something, report as quickly as possible and we are there to take action. And I think that was what has given us the successes we are achieving. We are not where we want to be but we are headed there and I can guarantee you within the shortest possible time, we will achieve full success.”

On the question raised on the limitations and challenges the Nigerian Army have faced in tackling insurgency and banditry in the country:

“It started as terrorism in Northeast and spread out into banditry and other acts of criminality. Now, what people don’t understand is we are dealing with a massive land mass, the whole of Northwest is over 200000 square kilometers. It is no joke, it is bigger than most countries you can think of. So providing security all round is not something you can do overnight and so it naturally would have taken us so much time to do that but what we’re saying now is that we have holistically looked at the whole situation and because it’s a fluid operation, they keep changing and what is required is that we equally have to change our operations in tune of what they are doing and that is exactly what we have done. And now that we are having the buy-in of Nigerians, it has made it a lot easier for us, and the federal government is doing its best to ensure that it provides the much needed equipment. Fighting insurgency, we need a lot of technology, because that is what will make us cover those gaps that we cannot with boots on ground, and we are getting them in gradually and that is giving us this success that we are seeing now.”

On criticisms raised by figured like retired General Theophilus Danjuma and the governor of Zamfara State:

“Well we know that the Armed forces of Nigeria is highly professional, we will never give excuses, we are only telling you the realities on ground. It is not an excuse that the whole Northwest is over 200,000 square kilometers, it is massive, and the worst part is that people need to understand that fighting insurgency is not like conventional warfare. In conventional warfare you know the enemy, in insurgency you don’t. That person that you think is innocent and doesn’t have anything is the person that really wants to kill you. Now, we know they are in Nigerian, where in Nigeria is another thing. Most times because of the vast nature of the area once people see them at a particular area, before the information is related to us, sometimes take 4-5 hours, sometimes 24 hours, and these guys are mobile. And because most of that area you see is covered by forest so by the time they go under the forest, even the surveillance drones cannot see them. So it takes a lot and because they don’t remain at a particular place, they are always moving, that is where were are seeking for the support of the individuals because people see them. And as soon as they see them, once they report that, we would be able to take actions immediately. Now don’t forget, fighting asymmetric warfare, military role is just about 20-25% of the solution. 75 to 80% of the solution is with good governance because preventive measures are better than you being reactive. What we are doing now is reacting to it because it has already been there. Again we have social issues in the country, there’s a lot of hunger, a lot of unemployment, and illiteracy that is on so it’s easier. I can bet you we have take over thousands of them, but they still keep coming, why, because we have so many of them. We have to look at population explosion. There are a lot of young men that have nothing doing and these guys could easily entice them by giving them peanuts to have them to join them and so that is why I said it’s a holistic thing that we need to do. Now I tell you, a lot of these locations where you have improvised explosive devices, these are the major challenges we are having now in the fight against insurgency. If your men step on any of these mines, the vehicle in it is destroyed, all the occupants are dead. Now how do you stop that? if we have good roads, you don’t have to worry about that your troops can really reacts as quickly as possible, reinforcement is easier, logistics could be moved quite easily, so you see it makes it a lot easier. The troops are doing the best they can and I guarantee you, we will continue to do what we doing, with the support of every Nigerian, it is important, and that is why I need to call on Nigerians, I have heard a number of time people insulting members of the Armed forces, I think nobody will be happy with that, we are humans, we deal with the morale of the minds. If you’re protecting individuals and you get those insults, it discourages you from wanting to do more, and that is why it is important for people to know that these guys have families, they are equally Nigerians, they would have been in their homes sitting down with their families, some have not seen their families for months, yet whether it is raining, dusty, or whatever the situation is, they have sworn to an oath to stay awake so that Nigerians could sleep. The least we could do is to support them. If they make mistakes, yes let’s bring it but let’s not insult them. So we want to appeal to Nigerians let us come together, support them, because without them, it is not going to be possible for all of us to sit at home, and let me tell you, the alternatives are more disastrous because if they take over, I can guarantee you that nobody will be free, if you go to the hospitals you would see some of them amputated, some of them have died. Always remember, put yourself in their place, if you were the one there, how will you feel? I think it is high time we stop insulting, castigating, let us support them together so that they can do more.”

The question on how the Nigerian Army get motivated despite the challenges they face in dealing with insurgency and banditry in the country:

“I think the best morale in the military is adequate training. Prepare them very well, provide for them the weapons required to do their jobs, make sure that they get their salaries as at when due, make sure that they are well fed, and these we are doing, that is why you have not had any reason of anybody complaining about settling of salary not being paid, or that he is not being fed, he is not being provided those basic things. We do not have all we need but all we have for now we are using them and while we are praying for more to come, we will continue to do what we need to do, so for us, the wellbeing of our troops is the most important. And we are also appealing and which I’m sure you’ve heard me speak on over and over again while at the National Assembly on the need to reconsider the salaries of our troops, to reconsider the ration cash allowance we are paying. I have mentioned it, it is something I know the country is going through, which is not only the military that is facing this challenge, but I know Mr. President has listened and I am sure he would take action.”

In conclusion, the reality that members of the Armed Forces are confronted with double jeopardy in a democracy as we have it in Nigeria, is incontrovertible, but the question of whether the fight against insurgency and banditry has a terminating date or the end of it in view, awaits answers from all well-meaning Nigerians. Similarly, on the question of whether there should be the Armed Forces Remembrance day in Nigeria in 2025, only time will tell. “If to please the people, we are for what we ourselves disapprove, how can we afterwards defend our work?  Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair”- George Washington.  This is food for thought and all the thoughts of a turtle are turtle. God bless Nigeria.

By Samuel Tunji Adeyanju