The soldiers involved in the anti-Boko Haram fight have expressed their sadness over the negative impact of the comments of the Chief of Army, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, on the morale of the nation’s troops.
Buratai had on Wednesday blamed the soldiers’ lack of commitment for Boko Haram resurgence, but he quickly recanted the following day, saying the soldiers had been defending the nation well.
Speaking to ThePunch in confidence, a major among the troops tackling insurgency in the North-East, said that there could be no better sacrifice than what they were doing for the country.
He said, “You need to be at the war front to know what we experience daily. We are sincere and patriotic. We love our country.’’
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Also speaking, another soldier who joined the Operation Lafiya Dole in 2017, said that the death of some of his colleagues had shown that they were honest.
“I have witnessed the death of my colleagues. Family members cried themselves hoarse during the burial of their loved ones and we were helpless to offer help to them. We only pray that the war ends as we continue to fight to safeguard the country,’’ the soldier said.
On his part, another senior army officer involved in the Boko Haram war, said someone sometimes could make certain statements and regret uttering them later.
He said, “I know that the junior officers are sad with that statement and will be angry considering their sacrifices. I am part of the war. I have been involved since last year and I know the situation there. I know that there are rules in the military. Once you get in, you abide by the rules of engagement. We know what we signed for. I don’t want to talk further on the issue.’’
Meanwhile, a retired officer of the Nigerian Army, Lt. Col Tony Nyiam, knocked Buratai for his statement/
Nyiam, who was one of the leaders of the officers who executed the April 22, 1990 coup to oust ex-military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida, said “The statement of the Chief of Army Staff was not the way to win the war. There is nothing wrong if he had said it to the officers and soldiers without allowing such information to get to the public.
“Such an address is most helpful to the enemy, the insurgents and the Fulani bandits. It is more helpful to the enemies and it cannot resuscitate discipline and commitment in the army.
“The kind of information, which Buratai gave out publicly, was what we used to commission some persons to get from the camp of the enemy. But he has decided to give out information that is very useful to the camp of the enemy.”