No fewer than 356 soldiers fighting the decade-old Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast have reportedly resigned from the Nigerian Army.
The lethargic soldiers cited loss of interest and the recent onslaught by the terrorists against colleagues as some of the reasons for their resignation, The Punch report amid denial by the Nigerian Army on its Twitter account.
Recall the Nigerian Army recently recorded some casualties while confronting the dare-devil Boko Haram terrorists. Last week, over 20 Nigerian soldiers were taken out in Damboa, Borno by the terrorists in an ambush operation. Also, some four months ago, the Nigerian Army lost 70 of its men in a development that unsettles the Army’s rank and file.
It would be recalled President Muhammadu Buhari recently told the Military Service Chiefs to brace up, saying he would no longer welcome further excuses from them on failings at the theater of war.
The ranks of the retiring soldiers include master warrant officers, warrant officers, staff sergeants, sergeants, lance corporals, corporals and privates.
The soldiers, according to reports are among 380 personnel whose application for voluntary disengagement from service was recently approved to take effect from January.
A circular signed by Brigadier General, T.E. Gagariga, on behalf of the Chief of Army staff was said to have contained the approval for the soldiers’ resignation.
The circular read: ”In compliance with the provisions of Reference A, the COAS vide Reference B has approved the voluntary and medical discharge of the above named MWO, and 385 others listed as Annexes A and B.
“The soldiers are to proceed on terminal leave December 3, 2020, while their disengagement date takes effect from January 3, 2021, in accordance with the Nigerian Army Administrative Policy and Procedures No 27 Paragraphs 3 and 4.
“Accordingly, I am directed to request formations and units to release all affected soldiers to report at the Headquarters, Garrison, with their unit service documents for documentation.
“All forms of military-controlled items, arms, ammunition, and items of combat kits are recovered from the soldiers prior to their disengagement date and certify that they are properly de-kitted. Please acknowledge.”
