A country so cruel to its soldiers

Permit me to take a guess: if you have a son or a daughter who is interested in holding a job as a Nigerian soldier in this present Nigeria, and as a father or mother who is duly aware of what life is like serving as a soldier in Nigeria, you would with every passion in you try to discourage your child. That’s my humble guess. As a parent, you would say being a soldier of this country isn’t an option. And I understand the cynicism.

The reality of working as a soldier in this country is akin to giving yourself to be killed like a Christmas goat. You know that if you get maimed for life in the course of duty, you will be disengaged (this is understandable because you can no longer stand the rigor of work) but will suffer pathetic indignity and woe betide you if you happen to be so unfortunate to die, your death will be handled with disdain and spite by the powers that be who engaged your service.

I recall a five-part story series TheCable ran in 2016 concerning the plight of Nigerian soldiers. It was titled ‘Forgotten soldiers’. That expose by its editor then ‘Fisayo Soyombo about the fate of our gallant soldiers who were severely injured and maimed for life but wickedly forgotten and abandoned to waste away left me in tears and sorrow. These soldiers sustained serious multiple injuries in the course of bravely fighting Boko Haram in the north-east to ensure the safety of the rest of us. Even though what had become of their mangled bodies happened in the course of their duty yet they were abandoned and forgotten. I remember the story of a particular soldier with the pseudonym ‘Joel Hamidu’. He was severely wounded from an explosive discharged from the Boko Haram side in a combat and became mutilated beyond recognition. He lamented to Soyombo of lacking the courage to go home to face his wife and children. He was ashamed that what his physique had become would be unbearable for his wife and children. Sitting in the office facing the computer as I read that story, I lowered my face behind the desk and cried.  I cried and cried and questioned what life is all about. I was devastated. And you know what, when the military got wind of that investigative piece, they denied it and sought to use their might to coerce TheCable to retract the series of story that was everything objective and true. Please, what country on mother earth engage in this type of callous behavior except Nigeria only?

The plight of soldiers discharging their duties presently in Nigeria is such that you would have sold your conscience for a plate of porridge not to feel the inhuman and pathetic conditions under which they have been slavering away. They are on a constant battle against terrorism using very obsolete weapons of warfare. There was this pride and fascination I felt whenever I come across soldiers in uniform when I was a kid growing up. This fascination with the military made me to love watching movies set in political and military themes. Take for instance the western countries – I would say there is no basis for comparison but since we are unashamed copycats who enjoy copying everything western, why don’t we copy the way their military system is run? An American soldier is unreservedly sure that his president and government take extra measures to put his safety concerns above board and that if he sustained a severe injury that leave him incapacitated, he will be well taken care of and paid all his entitlements, and in the event of death, his family wouldn’t be left out in the cold. It’s why the American soldier is dispassionate in the exercise of his service and can die defending his country without taking a second thought if the situation calls for it.

The scenario is different here – in Nigeria. We know the story. Even with the oath they take to stand gallantly in battle in defense of our sovereignty and against our enemies, even if it would cost their lives, Nigerian soldiers have had to run from some battle. Don’t blame them for running. It’s not cowardly. They are using far inferior arms and equipment against enemies who are using superior ones. They are sure that if they die on the battlefront, the Nigerian government will pretend to not know of their death. They will bury them in secret to avoid public knowledge. The benefits which they are entitled to upon their death and must be given to their family which can help to ease some of their financial needs will be cornered by the powers that be and converted to their pockets. Why wouldn’t they run away to at least save their lives?

During the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Sambo Dasuki his National Security Adviser was saddled to procure sophisticated arms and ammunition to strongly empower our soldiers in the fight against Boro Haram. I’m sure a lot of Nigerians kept wondering why the war against the terrorists wasn’t showing any sign of abating instead it kept escalating despite claims by the government about the money and commitment being pushed to counter the terrorists. Atlas this wasn’t the true story. It took the entrance of this present government for the can of worms to be opened. Dasuki who is now undergoing trial is alleged to have generously shared the largesse of $2.1 billion, money meant to procure arms for our ill-equipped soldiers among his family and friends. The health and lives of Nigerian soldiers who should have been the beneficiaries of that money were sacrificed for it – on the altar of greed.

In this government of President Muhammadu Buhari, 3 years and half on, you would think that things would have gotten better. You would think that our soldiers would cease to die like flies on the battlefield. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been the case.Despite our big budget for security and military engagement, nothing seem to have shifted. I often find myself asking; why are the death of our soldiers rising every minute instead of that of our enemies – those monsters called Boko Haram? Why are the morale of our soldiers on the low fueling demotivation for them to run from a call they swore to? Why do we have more injured soldiers than gallant ones?Sometime last week, a video where some soldiers had to take to pushing an armoured personnel carrier (APC) was on the internet. Why was this so? I am tired of headaches I get from reading countless tales of our soldiers lamenting the inhuman treatment they are served by the military hierarchy who are in charge of their logistics and welfare. For them to take to talking to the press, it had become quite unbearable. They cry of hunger and deprivation and of lack of even basic guns. Some have had to use sticks and stones to fight. This is shameful and it seems we don’t realize how we make a mockery of ourselves in this country and to the outside world. Nobody takes us serious.

Thereis the lack of morale to stand like true soldiers and fight because their ‘ogas at the top’ have wickedly and consistently denied these fighting men of their fair material request and the right to at least be treated with dignity. I know that being a soldier is not like being a CEO sitting in an air conditioned office, sipping some tea and dishing out orders. I know that there are certain sacrifice and compromise required of them due to the nature of their profession, it still doesn’t warrant the terrible conditions under which they work. They are human beings for pete’s sake. They have blood running in them. They are husbands, fathers, brothers and uncles – complete family men. They deserve protection too. If they all die due to disregard for their rightful concerns of service and welfare, who will do the job? Me?

I make an appeal to President Buhari to dispassionately look into the welfare of our soldiers. I understand that sometimes Buhari isn’t given the true picture of things concerning them but as a former soldier, a high ranking one at that, I thought that he would have an emotional attachment to making things work a lot better for them. I know that as a major player – one seeking for re-election, he is in the tick of his party campaign, yet still,he can afford to make an impromptu visit now to their stations where they are facing the heat of the insecurity in the north-east and examine the situation for himself. He should have a heart to heart conversation with them, asking genuine questions and seeking the real facts from them – both low and high and urgently attend to their request(s). This is not a bad idea. Presidents of civilized countries do this. I’m asking that standard arms and ammunition be given to them to aid their fighting power. I’m asking that their salaries and benefits be paid to them on time. I’m asking that top officers in charge of the welfare of their junior colleagues to please give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. I’m perfectly sure that I haven’t asked for what is out of the world and thus unattainable.

Paul can be reached @Ogochukwu_Paull on Twitter.