RIES OUT
We, the soldiers in Maiduguri, are losing patience, and we are
planning massive protests in the country by January; then they will know
our pains.
Here are the questions we want them to answer.
1. Is the Nigerian army really winning the war against the insurgency?
We are not winning the war against these people, if you will. Come to
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any location across Maiduguri and interview the soldiers one by one –
then you will know the pains we are passing through here. They keep
deceiving Nigerians on media, sitting down in Abuja and telling the
people what is happening in the theatre. Let them come and stay in these
environment.
2. Are we really paid our entitlement as the soldiers who fight and die for their nation?
Why has Dambazau, who is now the minister of interior, suspended our
allowances: TC allowance and furniture allowance? Why are the navy and
the air forces still being paid their money? These questions should be
forwarded to Dambazau.
3. Are the soldiers really equipped with good weapons to counter insurgents?
Recently some weaponry has been brought, however, most weapons we now
use were bought by Goodluck Jonathan, when he postponed the last
presidential election for six weeks, and the captured terrain was
regained.
4. What are the tactics used in the war?
I must tell you there are no specific tactics being used. Whenever we
go for any operation, we just move; most officers are so afraid that
they just push the poor soldiers forward for them to remain at the rear.
5. Are we attacking the terrorists, or we are still sitting in ambush, waiting for them?
We are still sitting in ambush. Why is it so? The best form of
defence is always attack. We wait for insurgents to attack and kill
soldiers for nothing. The officers may lie to us that jet has bombarded
the terrorists, and we should only go for mopping up. However, getting
there we are likely see them waiting for us 5 km from the camp. There
are saboteurs both of the upper and lower rank in the armed forces and
the government.
6. Does the president visit the troops or send delegations to boost their morale?
What does President Muhammadu Buhari do to boost the morale of the
troops in the war zone? Does he send delegations to visit us? No! He
will never do this. Why is it so? Don’t get me wrong: the president is
really trying to make sure the war is coming to an end.
7. Why do they sentence our fellow colleagues to 10-year imprisonments?
Why those generals stealing billions of naira are still walking and
driving all over the country freely? There are the soldiers who were
praying for Muhammadu Buhari to win during the last election so that he
could at least understand since he was once in the system. Some of these
poor soldiers are the bread winners in their families, I must tell you.
But look at the outcome now. Where are those who stole the money meant
to purchase arms for the troops, where are those who stole $1 billion? I
feel that TB Joshua’s prophesy is coming into reality now.
8. How much is the operational allowance paid to the troops?
Why are we not paid our entitlement, even those who fought and died
for their fatherland? When their families come to carry the corps, we
are the ones to give them money to convey the corps.
They pay us just N30, 000 for an operation. Why do we work like
elephants, and eat like ants in this country? Moreover, you will never
see the money in two-three months. When we are out of town, our feeding
is nothing to write home about. Most commanding officers spend the
allowances meant for our colleagues lying in the hospital shot.
Where is the e-payment President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to
provide the armed forces with? Let our salaries come directly from the
CBN, and then nobody will have a chance to eat our money.
I must tell you the soldiers here are sick and tired of the everyday
propaganda. If we don’t see any improvements by the end of January,
there will be arrangeme
