By Kolawole Ojebisi
The house of representatives has resolved to investigate the reported resignation of at least 350 soldiers from the Nigerian army.
The soldiers, most of whom until their resignation, were in the trenches in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents in the north-east, had applied to resign from military service.
Their requests were reportedly approved.
The New Diplomat had reported how most of the battle-wearied soldiers reportedly cited loss of interest as their reason for resigning.
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At Tuesday’s plenary session, the house directed its committee on army to investigate reports of the resignation and confirm the circumstances for such.
While considering a motion sponsored by Mohammed Monguno, the chief whip of the House and three other legislators, the House warned of the grievious implication of such mass resignation.
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The ‘movers’ of the motion called the decision to probe the circumstances of the mass resignation, “a motion of matters of urgent public importance.”
Monguno said in addition to dealing a huge blow on the military’s fight against insurgency, such move also poses serious risks to the society especially if the resigned personnel are without jobs.
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He also lamented that the Chief of Army Staff approved the soldiers’ request to be voluntarily disengaged without making efforts to address their grievances, which he said he learnt included loss of morale, unimproved allowances and mass casualties in the hands of Boko Haram insurgents.
The lawmaker said the recent development is just one of the many instances where soldiers have been seen expressing their disapproval of the manner in which the war against Boko Haram is being fought.
“Recently, major general Olusegun Adeniyi, commander of operation Lafiya Dole, Nigeria‘s counter terrorism headquarters, was removed for exposing inferior military wares and poor equipment of troops while briefing the chief of army staff from combat zone after successfully repelling an attack from Boko haram insurgents,” he said.
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“The house is concerned that not too long ago, the general officer commanding 7 division of the Nigeria army in Maimalari, major general Victor Ezegwu, escaped being lynched by rampaging soldiers for leaving them with neither food nor water while fighting in the north-eastern part of the country for two days.”
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Monguno described the situation as an “impending military mutiny that may imperil our democracy” if not urgently addressed.
Speaking further on the issue Monguno stressed in his motion that the sudden mass resignation might not be unconnected with the recent exposé by Lance Corporal Martins Idakpein.
Monguno said, “On the 22nd of June 2020, a lance corporal in the Nigerian Army, Martins Idakpein made an online video where he condemned the attitude of the Service Chiefs towards the attacks and killing of Nigerians and soldiers as well as untold hardship soldiers face while conducting combat operations.”
He also highlighted the series of protests by military personnel due to poor welfare and poor working conditions.
“On several occasions, soldiers have disobeyed orders from superior officers in protest of poor welfare arrangements, and alleged embezzlement of allowances due them by the superiors, and there have been cases of mutiny and sporadic shooting and attempt shooting of superior officers.”
Recall that on the 3rd of July, roughly 350 solders which form a battalion serving in cauldrons of insurgency in the Northern part of the country wrote to the Chief Of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Tukur Buratai, asking for voluntary retirement from the Nigerian army, citing loss of interest.
