ASIDE the 105 soldiers killed by Boko Haram, additional 34 soldiers were killed two days ago but it wasn’t in the news’’- Deji Adeyanju.
Mr. Deji Adeyanju is absolutely right. The most heartless and reprehensible thing that our government could have done is to cover-up the fact that 105 of our soldiers were killed by Boko Haram a few days ago. To do such a thing is simply evil.
A soldier ought to be honoured in death and this is especially so if he dies in the course of doing his duty and fighting for his nation.
The government has not only dishonoured them by not acknowledging their sacrifice but they have also buried them in the wilderness like rabid dogs. This is wickedness of the highest order and President Buhari, his Chief of Army Staff and his Minister of Defence should bury their heads in shame.
Anyone that buys the lie and propaganda that the 105 soldiers never died and that they are still alive is a compound fool or village idiot.
Will the military also deny the fact that a few days ago 34 of our soldiers were killed by Boko Haram? These boys died for their country. Why deny them?
I am outraged by the fact that a soldier will sacrifice his life for his country yet the citizens and authorities of that country don’t even appreciate it.
Pictures of the dead bodies were posted on social media. Everyone in the military knows that those soldiers are dead. It is an open secret. Yet because government denies it so many people just choose to believe them.
The truth is that Boko Haram must have used chemical weapons in the attack.When you look at the pictures of the dead bodies this is obvious. It was probably mustard gas.
All we want from the military is the truth. If 105 soldiers were not killed then how many actually were?
The whole episode happened last week in Borno State and the military authorities are denying it. I am sickened by that. If others cannot appreciate the importance of honouring our dead soldiers, I can. I will not be intimidated and I will not remain silent.
Tell us where our boys are buried and if you refuse to do so we will keep asking. There must be accountability and respect for those that have made the supreme sacrifice just to keep the rest of us safe. Our soldiers deserve that much.
Finally, let it be said loud and clear that since President Buhari came to power I doubt if he has not bought one bullet for the military. Considering the fact that we are in the middle of a protracted and very bloody war I believe that this is utterly shameful. If you say you want to fight and defeat Boko Haram then why are you not buying arms for your troops?
This brings me to other matters and raises other questions about our President’s sincerity of purposes and commitment.
You say you are fighting Boko Haram yet you were nominated as their spokesman and chief negotiator two years ago in proposed peace talks with the Federal Government.
You say you are fighting Boko Haram but the first thing you did when you came to power was to remove military checkpoints.This guaranteed Boko Haram free movement and access to the entire country.
You say you are fighting Boko Haram yet last year you told the world that an attack on Boko Haram is an attack on the North.
You say you are fighting terror yet since you came to power Boko Haram has grown in strength, has regained lost territory and has been declared the ‘’worlds number one most deadly terror group’’ by the Global Terror Index.
You say you are fighting terror, yet since you came to power Nigeria, according to the Global Terror Index, has been declared as not just having ‘’the first most deadly terror group in the world’’ which is Boko Haram but also of having ‘’the fourth most deadly terror group in the world’’ which is a group that the Index describes as the ‘’Fulani militants’’ and that we call the Fulani herdsmen.
You say you are fighting Boko Haram yet since you came to power Nigeria has been declared the world’s ‘’third most terrorised country’’ by the Global Terror Index after Iraq and Afghanistan which were declared first and second respectively whilst Syria and Pakistan were declared fourth and fifth.
You say you respect human rights yet you barricade Colonel Sambo Dasuki, the former National Security Adviser in his home, deny him medical attention, flout court orders and make him critically ill.
(To be continued tomorrow)
•Fani-Kayode is a former minister of Aviation.