The Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ) might have set up an inquiry to investigate what went wrong, but Tuesday’s audacious attack on the sprawling Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) complex in Kaduna State, that left two soldiers dead and one kidnapped, is not only a dastardly and condemnable act, it signposts once again, the worsening state of insecurity in the country. This absolutely provocative and grievous crime was an affront to the Nigerian state; it is in reality an attack on the nation and should be so treated. To say the least, it is an embarrassment in a country with a government; a heinous act against an institution which embodies and represents a major landmark of Nigerian military power. If embodiments of revered institutions can fall victim of seemingly faceless bandits, then who is safe? This is a matter that should not be taken lightly by the authorities. Obviously, there is a failure of intelligence. Somehow, some people, whatever their reason, have simply abandoned their duty to safeguard the nation and its people. This is unacceptable and Nigerians deserve full accountability.
Quite predictably, President Muhammadu Buhari declared that Tuesday’s attack purportedly launched by elements of Boko Haram on the NDA facility will only buoy the country’s resolve to defeat and totally eliminate insecurity in the country. The President in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, specifically said, rather than demoralize the troops, the attack will speed up the army’s determination to deliver a decisive end to the insecurity and criminality besetting the nation. While commiserating with the families, who lost loved ones in the attack, and praying God to comfort them, the president “vowed that the deceased would not die in vain, as the degenerate act would have consequences that will eventually clean the country of vermin, and emancipate the polity from deliberate, targeted and contrived atrocious acts.”
Buhari thanked Nigerians, who appreciated the efforts of the military to root out criminality from the country, but urged critics to desist from politicizing the base assault on the military academy saying rather than resort to recriminations, “this is the time for all patriots and people of goodwill to support and encourage those who are in the vanguard of the battle against wickedness in the land.” This may be well said, but Nigerians have been so assured too many times to feel safe from the rampaging insecurity and lawlessness. The sophisticated methods of the Boko Haram sect, the brazenness with which they have, at will and unchallenged, moved large numbers of men and equipment over wide geographical areas and for many hours to achieve their objective to plunder, destroy and spread fear among the populace are sufficient reasons for Nigerians to perceive a palpable inadequacy in the effectiveness of military response in the war on terror. The offensives against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nigeria are too shameful and belittling.
The question cannot but be asked: are there fifth columnists within the ranks or is the problem attributable to mere insufficiency in one form or another? These are for government to answer and soonest too because lives and property are being destroyed as Nigeria is hemorrhaging too much.
Really, Nigeria is in a state of war and the management of the situation appears awful. Too many security personnel are being killed by a presumably less trained terrorist group. That ragtag terrorists will take on the NDA facility without fear is the climax of audacity. The Defence Headquarters has also ordered a probe of the audacious invasion of the strategic military training institution. But it denied stories making the rounds that officers in charge of the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) at the academy slept on duty while the criminals conducted the assault.
It is very unfortunate that a killing field is the catch-all phrase with which Nigeria is now easily described. And just when that description appears to cull the blood, the nation lives up to it in spectacular fashion. Beyond this, however, this despicable act of criminality throws up a number of issues that border not only on insecurity of life and property in this polity, but the possibility of anti-people elements’ intent, for reasons of disrupting the structures of governance; and ultimately destabilize the nation. Therefore, for the umpteenth time, there is need for a thorough investigation and whatever findings arrived at should be made public. In unfortunate situations such as this, it is not out of place to recall with distaste the all too familiar foibles of the army and chastise them for poor intelligence and tardy response; after all, even with the death of its leader, Ibrahim Shekau, Boko Haram has been categorical in its resolve to attack federal establishments. As typical of Nigerians, who have been exasperated by frequent news of insecurity and kidnappings, questions would fly about. Was there intelligence that the army failed to act upon? What was the threat level of the NDA when the attack occurred? Why didn’t the army respond promptly? What was the level of preparedness? In truth, no response to these questions will exculpate the army or elicit salutary comments from people, for such queries call to question the viability of the security forces, for as security experts are wont to say, poor intelligence necessarily leads to poor judgement. Moreover, they also magnify the already battered image of the Nigerian armed forces.
Well-meaning Nigerians have been watching the devastating stealth with which Boko Haram and other criminals operate, abducting women and children, sacking villages and mowing down helpless people, yet, beyond routine condemnation, the body language and the atmosphere in Aso Rock did not reflect the pain and vulnerability of the country; and begging the question: is the president so numbed and desensitized to sympathize with his fellow citizens? Honestly speaking, Buhari has failed to serve the Nigerian people through whose mandate he got to power. Obviously, he is not aware that the depth of his leadership quotient is an index of the risk he takes on behalf of the Nigerian people. Not only has the president failed to lead the troops in the trenches, he has never bothered to visit any of the places where Boko Haram or criminals under whatever name, has committed atrocities; and it is very unlikely he will visit the NDA to show his support and commiserate with the bereaved families.
As flickers of violence spring forth from different spots of the country, there is a growing realization that as a geopolitical unit, Nigeria is systematically being squeezed in from top and bottom. The emergence of a dubious audacity is gradually dousing the potency of rightful law enforcement. The dire security situation in Nigeria is relaying the signs of a nation under siege. When Buhari ran for the presidency in 2015, his reputation, military background, and utterances gave Nigerians reason to believe that finally a man who appreciates the nature and the seriousness of the problem, and how to tackle it has come. As the nation’s number one citizen, Buhari must own this war; the duty and obligation to end the war is principally that of the President. That is why he is the leader and commander-in-chief. Nigeria is at war and the president; commander-in-chief must not only lead but be seen to lead the charge. Going forward, Buhari should set measurable benchmarks with respect to the war on terror. Buhari ought to have understood that unlike other areas, which may accommodate deferred action, security does not have that luxury. Nigerian lives are being lost on a daily basis and it is time for a decisive approach.
Indeed, the inability of the country’s security forces to combat insecurity has now caused the Nigerian military a huge embarrassment in the international community and the setbacks as well as troubling reports of the state of the troops’ combat readiness is worthy of concern. After all, it has already resulted in avoidable casualty and a consequent mutiny in one of the military formations in the country. There may indeed be vested interests pursuing hidden agenda by war profiteers. It is the duty of the investigators to be thorough in the inquest to get to the bottom of this NDA attack and other violent crimes in the land. Ultimately however, government must justify its sole purpose by performing its constitutional duty to Nigeria and its people. According to section 14(2) b of the 1999 Constitution, “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” Surely, providing these basic necessities cannot be too much to ask from the country’s leaders.
