Tension is rising among the top hierarchy of the Nigerian military as fears continue to spread of an imminent rebellion among the rank and file, Punch has learnt.
Punch correspondents, who spoke to four senior officers,
including a Major General, learnt that many of the soldiers, especially those
at the warfront, had been showing signs of agitation over the inability of the
military high command to provide them with weapons and adequate welfare.
One of the officers said, “I can tell you without
mincing words that many of us, officers, are afraid because the soldiers can
revolt anytime from now. You will recall that some soldiers of the 21 Brigade
in Sambisa Forest last year went on the rampage, revolting against their
superiors.
“Such rebellion only happens when the officers lose the trust
of their men. The soldiers have been complaining about lack of weapons and
welfare but their demands are being ignored. Always remember that whenever
there is an attack, if 40 soldiers are killed, only two officers will be
affected. This is because the soldiers are the ones at the battlefront.
“If they feel they are being led to their death, they will
rather revolt and save themselves rather than die. As it is, we are fearful of
what may happen. We don’t want a Bangladeshi Rifle Revolt in Nigeria like it
happened in 2009 in Bangladesh where soldiers killed 57 officers.”
A major general told one of Punch correspondents that apart
from the lack of weapons, the military was losing the anti-insurgency war due
to two principal reasons — strategy and lack of synergy among the service
chiefs.
The source alleged that there was disunity among the service
chiefs which was beginning to affect the fight against terror.
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