‘Top Nigerian troops don’t want Nigerian army to defeat terrorist group’ - Senior Military

The Nigerian military has hinted plans to probe the circumstances that led to the recent fall of Baga town in Borno State, being guarded by the troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) into the hands of the Boko Haram terrorists, less than two days it took delivery of new sophisticated weapons. 
A senior military source, who spoke on condition of anonymity reveals to ThisDay on Tuesday.

The source said military authorities ordered an investigation to determine the extent of internal and external sabotage to the ongoing operation against the terrorists in the North-eastern part of the country. 

According to the Senior military, the latest development was shocking because it shows a similar pattern to Mubi and Bama debacle where soldiers who were said to be “armed to the teeth abandoned their positions and their weapons after mounting feeble resistance against advancing terrorists”.

It was gathered that investigations revealed that the Chadian component of the MJTF comprising Nigeria and Niger with Cameroun refusing to contribute a single troop since its formation withdrew two days before the attack. 

According to military source, Chadian authorities based the sudden withdrawal of its troops to routine rotation of military personnel, but the Nigerian military authorities at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) are said to be more concerned with what they see as an alarming level of moles within the Nigerian troops who don’t want the Nigerian army to defeat the terrorist group.

Another military source also hinted that the DHQ are currently brainstorming on the actions to take with the high level of cowardice, desertion occasioned by saboteurs within the system who influence others to flee battlefront at the hearing of Boko Haram battle cry “Allahu Akbah”. 

“We have noticed a frightening and painful pattern, which suggests that the infiltration is deep. It is painful to note that the troops did not offer much resistance and abandoned a newly acquired weapons to the terrorists. To be fair, it’s not that it’s the intention of these troops to exhibit these acts of cowardice but this is the handwork of some moles who in a pre-planned and carefully choreographed form flee at the hearing of Boko Haram battle cry ‘Allahu Akbah’ thereby creating confusion for the rest who also flee with them.  

However, the most painful thing is that they have just been supplied with new sophisticated weapons and the fear is that having abandoned these type of arms and ammunition to the terrorists, these cowards are trying to reverse our gains just similar to what happened in Mubi. We also suspect that there maybe massive desertion by those soldiers who absconded from the battlefield, which is being reported as missing because we have secured back most of them. They know the consequences of their actions and may resort to blackmail using their collaborators,” the source said. 

The source, however, expressed optimism that despite the fall of Baga town, the Nigerian military has vowed that the town will not be conceded to Boko Haram. 

“Similar to the operation that saved Mubi; troops from other units and divisions across the country that have not been compromised would be mobilised to liberate Baga. Mind you that unlike what people are being fed and made to believe, arms and ammunitions are not the issue. We are now foreseeing similarity to what happened in Mubi because what saved the situation is that we have to bring in troops from other areas,” the source said.  

Speaking also on the development, the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, declined to give the number of soldiers comprising female personnel that are missing or ran away. 

“We did not lose as many as was reported. We are however still searching for some missing soldiers, having secured most of them. We are studying the situation about what happened there (Baga) but one thing we can assure Nigerians is that military will not concede any part of this country,” Olukolade said.

Meanwhile, an intelligence source, who did not want his name in print, denied the reports that about 18 female soldiers were either missing or captured by the terrorists during the attack. 

“We only have less than three female soldiers amongst those still said to be missing and we have recovered substantive number of them between yesterday and now. The major fear now is that there might be massive desertion of those concerned officers and soldiers in order not to face the consequences of their actions since most of them are said to have absconded,” the source said.

It would be recalled that Baga town was captured January 3 after suspected Boko Haram insurgents attacked the Multinational Joint Task Force base, forcing both soldiers and locals to flee in fear for their lives. 

In a reaction to the attack and the reported cowardice of the troops, some Nigerian experts have raised alarm over the recent capture of the town and explained the danger it posed.

 

 

Thisday