Nigeria’s House of Representatives on Tuesday began investigations into the reported resignation of 365 soldiers from the country’s Army.
The House mandated its Committee on the Army to investigate the who are the soldiers serving in the country’s North-East, where they are battling the Boko Haram insurgents.
The House noted that such a development foreshadowed grave consequences for the country’s security, including mutiny in the military.
The group of 365 allegedly sent their resignation letter to the Nigerian Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Tukur Burutai, citing fatigue, among others as their reason leaving the Army.
Nigeria has been involved in the 11-year-old war with the Islamist fundamentalists who are fighting to establish their brand of government and religion in Nigeria’s north-east region. The terrorists in recent months have stepped up their attacks on the military, especially through laying of ambush for the government soldiers.
Tuesday’s resolution by the House followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Mohammed Monguno, Chief Whip and co-sponsored by Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Deputy Chief Whip; Ndudi Elumelu, Minority Leader, and Toby Okechukwu, Deputy Minority Leader.
The frequent attacks and loss of lives have led to the loss of morale among the troops, who complain of being left in the war theatre of many years without being replaced.
Monguno recalled that on June 22 this year, a lance corporal in the Nigerian Army, Martin Idakpein made an online video that has since gone viral, in which he lashed out at the halfhearted attitude of the Chief of Army Staff towards the attacks and killings of Nigerians and soldiers, including the hardship faced by the soldiers in the face while conducting combat operations.
Continuing, he added that “On the 3rd of July 2020, via a reference number NA/COAS/001, 356 soldiers which is a battalion, serving in the Northeast and other theatres of operations wrote to the Chief of Army Staff asking for voluntary retirement from the force and citing loss of interest as reasons for their retirement.
“Worried that if this palpable drift currently ravaging the Nigerian army is not brought under checks and control, by nipping the influx of able ex-army officers into our society without job security, it may become a serious security threat and an impending military mutiny that may imperil our democracy hence the need to urgently tackle this impending menace.”
