Two Nigerian soldiers are to undergo counseling for mental stress, the Defence Headquarter has said. This comes after they were seen in a viral video complaining about being ill-equipped to deal with Boko Haram militants.
According to a statement issued by Major General John Enenche, Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, the action of the soldiers was occasioned by distress arising for being ambushed by the terrorist group.
“The Troops of Combat Team 1, Operation Kantana Jimlan on long-range admin patrol along Buni Yadi – Buni Gari axis encountered multiple Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs and Boko Haram Terrorists’ ambush, eight kilometers ahead of Buni-Gari in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State on the 18 of May 2020.
“Two soldiers paid the supreme price and three other soldiers sustained injuries as a result of the IED explosion. Additionally, a recovery truck, one troop-carrying vehicle, and a water tanker that ran into the IED were destroyed by fire. Three terrorists were neutralized while unconfirmed number escaped with various degrees of injury.
“However, due to mental snap/distress occasioned by the fog of war, two of the soldiers who escaped the IED and the terrorists’ ambush recorded the incident with uncomplimentary remarks, about the Nigerian Army and her leadership, which was released on the social media. Although this kind of outburst is expected in war, the soldiers involved have been identified and would undergo observation and counseling,” the statement reads.
Enenche further reiterated the commitment of the armed forces towards ending terrorism in the country and forestalling such re-occurrence.
“Armed Forces of Nigeria will remain unwavering in its quest to end the terrorism and will do everything possible to ensure there is no repeat of this kind of traumatic incident/outburst.
”The Military High Command commends troops of Operation Lafiya Dole for their unwavering determination, hard work, and resilience”, the statement concluded.
Recall that a viral video had surfaced on social media of two soldiers raining uncomplimentary abuses on the hierarchy of the Nigerian Army. In the video, the soldiers reportedly watched helplessly as their trucks went up in flames after being hit by bombs planted by the terrorist.
They were reportedly heard shouting in basic English; ‘It cannot better for the army, this thing that the Nigerian Army has done to us, it cannot be better for them. Army don sell us finish. See the way dem attack us. Dem ambush us. See the way army suffer us.
“After dem don finish us, army dem go send jets. …e no go beta for you for life,” one of the soldiers lamented in pidgin English, as other members of the crew went on abusing military authorities.
In the past, such public outbursts from soldiers have been met with summons to a court-martial. For years troops fighting to end the decade-long Boko Haram insurgency in the north-east have been complaining of being ill-equipped despite reports of various budgetary provisions for weapons and training.
