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Shameless soldiers of the Nigerian Army By Tunde Odesola

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2022: CELEBRATING THE ARMED FORCES OF NIGERIA AMID SECURITY CHALLENGES

Shameless soldiers of the Nigerian Army By Tunde Odesola

 

Nigerian Army– They depict horror and terror when they should be heroes and she-roes. They represent the flickering cowardice in the darkling plain of repression when they should glitter like gold in the courageous sun. They are the Nigerian military: the monsters of sorrow, tears and blood; the devils and demons of death.

Shameless soldiers of the Nigerian Army By Tunde Odesola
Amputated by unpatriotism, and gaunt on nationalism – the Nigerian Army – is the harbinger of anguish and despair to a nation writhing in the inferno of greed, beastiality, prodigality and incompetence, since it struck on January 15, 1966 and was vanquished on May 29, 1999.

 

Lest I be drowned in the sycophantic cacophony of ‘US-is-more-advanced-than-Nigeria’ rejoinders, I’ll cite Ghana, our dear neighbour, as an example of a sexagenarian country like Nigeria, that had been ruled by soldiers, but which has long left Nigeria in self-destruct dungeon.

In terms of military coups and democratic change of power, Ghana is superior to Nigeria, though Nigeria embarked on the journey of coup-plotting 40 days earlier than Ghana.

I won’t compare the US military with Nigeria’s, to do so is to compare the Atlantic ocean with a teardrop. Instructively, of the 45 presidents of the United States, 31 of them served in the military with about a dozen of them being war heroes.

In the main, American soldiers, who served as presidents, and others veterans, who held various political offices, burnished with patriotic fervour.

With their inexplicable wealth, greed was the starch of corruption on the crispy khaki of many rogue generals that held various leadership positions during Nigeria’s military misadventures that came in the form of coups.

Hiding behind the mask of ‘non-negotiable national unity’, 99.9% of the leaders of the Nigerian military, at various times in the nation’s catastrophic history, made personal fortunes in the confusion they caused by substituting nationalism, competence and chivalry with ethnicity, nepotism and repressive Constitutions.

The third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, was a soldier and war hero, who authored the evergreen Declaration of Independence in 1776. He served two terms and lived for 83 years – between 1743 and 1826.

Quite unlike the haughty soldiers of fortune that stomp and kick up dust in Nigeria, Jefferson was a statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, musician, philosopher, writer, politician and patriot.

Having repeatedly seen despotic boots brutalising the bloodied butts of democracy and freedom, Jefferson sounded a warning, more than a 100 years before Nigeria was created, saying, “Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages.”

But Nigerian soldiers will never listen. A female member of Nigeria’s clan of savage soldiers, Lt. Chika Anele, two weeks ago, dehumanised an innocent female member of the National Youth Service Corps, Ifenyinwa Ezeiruaku, at the 13 Brigade Headquarters, Calabar, Cross River State, by beating her up, pouring dirty water on her, subjecting her to bodily injuries and gruesome corporal punishments.

Following the outrage that greeted the viral video of Anele’s insane act, the Nigerian military mounted the podium to deny the allegations of cover-up, saying in the quivering voice of Falz the Bad Guy, that ‘the officer involved has been identified and sanctioned in the interim…’

Nearly 20 days after the evil incident, the military, in their arrogant and wanton manner, have said nothing about the show of shame, in the belief that Nigerians, as usual, have pulled up the carpet and swept the incident under.

To the generality of the Nigerian Army, many of whom are grossly uncivilised, Nigerians aren’t better than monkeys to be shot for sport.

No doubt, Anele needs an urgent psychiatric evaluation to determine her mental fitness for the soldiering job, which makes sacrifice the peak of patriotism, just as Ezeiruaku needs comprehensive psychological counselling to overcome the traumatic abuse.

It is ridiculous that Anele picked on Ezeiruaku because she shook a Nigerian soldier, whose feeding, clothing, accommodation and welfare are catered for by the taxes Ezeiruaku and other Nigerians pay to the Federal Government.

I would’ve recommended massive reorientation of the beasts in the Nigerian Army, but it won’t work because dehumanisation of the civilian populace appears to be one of the drills soldiers are made to undergo while in training.

If it were not so, Nigeria’s military hierarchy should have announced forthwith the dismissal of Anele, a termagant unworthy of the noble calling of a soldier.

It’s so laughable that the military uniform for which Nigerian soldiers beat and kill civilians are worn by anyone in the US. You can walk into any store and purchase any colour of military camouflage or military uniform of your choice to wear.

Despite the attempt to give the US military a human face, and make soldiers live in amity within civilians, the US government and the American people still accord the highest respect to soldiers ahead of all other professions.

I’m not saying that Nigeria should quash Section 109 of the Criminal Code which forbids civilians from wearing military uniforms except if granted the permission to do so by the President or the governor, or if it is for stage play, all I’m saying is Nigerians should not be brutalised for an offence whose fine is just N10.

In its predictable viciousness, the Army was reported in March 2021 to have dismissed and detained one Emmanuel Odaudu in an underground cell for more than eight months because he rapped in his military uniform while he was still in the Army.

The victim’s mother, simply identified as Helen, said her son was arrested, blindfolded, chained in both hands and legs, and taken away.

Helen said her son was arrested in Otukpo, Benue State, and detained in underground cells in Port Harcourt and Abuja because Army authorities saw a shared Facebook memory of her son rapping in military uniform.

Personally, I’ve seen Nigerians being stripped naked and battered by soldiers on the streets of Lagos for wearing clothes with army-green colour, driving vehicles with army-green colour or wearing green colour berets.

A fatal fate befell a 43-year-old man, Ajayi Oladele, who was tortured to death by soldiers of the Nigerian Navy, 4 Mechanised Brigade, Benin, Edo State, sometime ago.

The breadwinner of his family, Oladele was chained to the bed of Military Hospital, Benin, where he was rushed to when his health deteriorated after being tortured.

Oladele’s killers in Nigerian Army uniforms detained and killed him over an allegation that he owed a friend, Kayode Adeosho, N1.5m, a claim which Oladele’s family described as untrue.

As it is the case of so many Nigerians, who have been killed or suffered extreme torture by soldiers, Nigerian military authorities have always kept mute and shielded erring soldiers who leave their duty posts to engage in criminal activities.

The case of notorious kidnapper, Bala Hamisu aka Wadume, comes to mind. Even after Wadume had implicated 10 soldiers and nine civilians as his accomplices in the killing of three policemen and two civilians at a checkpoint along the Takum-Ibbi Road, Taraba State, in 2019, the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, had withdrawn the charges against the soldiers and set the killers free.

No country needs a cowardly Army that poops in the pants at the mention of Boko, but turns its guns on innocent citizens. The late comedian, Moses Olaiya aka Baba Sala, had a song for big-for-nothing bullies, “A se ko le ja, tito lo tobi banku, banku!”

Costa Rica, Iceland, Mauritius, Monaco, Panama and Vanuatu are examples of countries with limited military forces but no standing armies. All these countries are safer than Nigeria.

Andorra, Dominica, Grenada, Kiribati, Liechtenstein, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, and Palau are examples of countries WITHOUT military forces. People don’t die like cockroaches in these countries as they do in Nigeria.

Nigeria can do without killers in army uniform, please.

Email: [email protected]
Facebook: @tunde odesola
Twitter: @tunde_odesola
TundeOdesola.com
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NEW BPP DG COMMITS TO EFFICIENCY AND STAFF WELFARE FOR IMPACTFUL SERVICE DELIVERY

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NEW BPP DG COMMITS TO EFFICIENCY AND STAFF WELFARE FOR IMPACTFUL SERVICE DELIVERY*

*_…begins review of bureau processes to enhance government procurement systems_*

The Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr Adebowale Adedokun, has outlined his vision to drive efficiency, enhance staff welfare, and reinforce the Bureau’s regulatory mandate in alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope mandate and his commitment to improving Nigeria’s economy. This was made known during an interactive session with staff of the Bureau at the State House Banquet Hall on November 20, 2024. Dr Adedokun emphasised the urgency of delivering results as well as improving trust in the government procurement system to support President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, declaring, “Let us work together to get value for money for Nigeria’s developmental processes and achieve President Tinubu’s mandate of making Nigeria’s economy better.”

Furthermore, in a bid to strengthen operational efficiency, the DG also announced key reforms, including introducing Service Level Agreements for the bureau’s processes ensuring that letters are treated within 3 (three) days, and ensuring reports are completed within 14 (fourteen) days. He also highlighted plans to secure a sustainable budget that would improve the working environment and provide better welfare for staff.

Dr Adedokun firmly stated the Bureau’s resolve to uphold its regulatory integrity under his watch. He warned that officers are prohibited from visiting Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) unless on official assignments stressing the need for officers of the Bureau to stay above board. He further declared that contractors are no longer allowed within the Bureau’s premises to ensure that officers can perform their duties without undue interference and influence.

Calling for a collaborative approach, the DG urged staff to embody the Bureau’s regulatory values by adhering to procurement guidelines, avoiding delays, and striving for excellence. “As a regulator, you must be seen to be guided by the procurement process,” he stated. He assured the team of an open-door policy, encouraging innovative ideas that could propel the Bureau to greater heights.

The session also featured a visit from former DG, Engr. Emeka Ezeh, OFR, FNSE, who led the Bureau from 2009 to 2016. Engr. Ezeh commended President Tinubu for appointing Dr Adedokun and urged staff to provide their full support to the new leadership. He encouraged staff to focus on leaving a legacy of excellence, saying, “Work in a way that you will be celebrated wherever you go in life.”

Senior Directors, including Engr. Nasir Bello and Engr. Isaiah Yesufu reiterated the importance of supporting the DG’s vision while emphasizing adherence to the Bureau’s operational guidelines. Staff also welcomed the session, sharing their perspectives on improving the Bureau’s operations and pledging their support for the new leadership.

In a related development, Dr Adedokun sought collaboration with the Presidential Office of Digital Engagement and Strategy (PODES) led by its Head, Mr O’tega Ogra, who is also the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital/New Media, during a courtesy visit to his office on November 21, 2024. The DG emphasized the need to enhance the Bureau’s public engagement and visibility in line with the all-of-government communications approach being espoused by the PODES.

Mr Ogra congratulated Dr Adedokun on his appointment and highlighted the key role BPP plays in advancing Nigeria’s development agenda. O’tega further expressed his commitment to collaborating with the Bureau in amplifying its communication efforts and ensuring Nigerians understand and appreciate its critical role in national governance.

Dr Adedokun’s leadership marks a new chapter for the Bureau of Public Procurement, focused on accountability, efficiency, and impactful service delivery. His vision aligns seamlessly with the Federal Government’s goals of economic transformation and sustainable development as well as President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.

Janet McDickson
Director, Information & Public Relations/Head, Media-BPP

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SECURITY

Human Rights Commission urges Borno govt to probe NGO’s activities

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Human Rights Commission urges Borno govt to probe NGO’s activities

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday advised the Borno State government to evaluate the activities and programs of Medecins Sans Frontieres in the state.

 

The commission made the recommendation in a report presented to the state, which absolved the Nigerian military of complicity in the reported termination of about 10,000 pregnancies in the Northeast.

On December 7, 2022, Reuters published a report alleging that since 2013, the Nigerian military conducted a secret, systematic, and illegal abortion program in the North East, terminating at least 10,000 pregnancies among women and girls, many of whom had been kidnapped and raped by Islamist militants.

Following the Reuters publication, the NHRC set up a panel, The Special Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations in Counter-Insurgency Operations in North East, chaired by a retired Supreme Court Justice, Justice Abdul Aboki.

Speaking before presenting the report, the Senior Adviser to the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Hillary Ogbonna, said there is no evidence of illegal abortion programs terminating 10,000 pregnancies by the Nigerian military in the North East.

Ogbonna revealed that whistleblowers testified that a nongovernmental organization, Medecins Sans Frontieres, was involved in a program of abortion in the North East.

He said MSF refused to appear before the panel.

“There is evidence that MSF may have operated a program of illegal abortion in the North East.

“The panel makes this finding based on the testimony of a protected witness and whistleblower, who testified that abortions were conducted by MSF from 2014 to 2015 and continued after the replacement of one Mitchell, a Mexican woman, the head of the psychosocial support program in 2016 introduced to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Ministry of Health, Borno State,” he said.

He, therefore, said the panel recommended that the “Borno State government undertakes an evaluation of the activities and programs of the MSF in Borno State, including its Psychosocial Support Programme.”

However, Ogbonna clarified that other NGOs did not operate abortions in the North East.

He also observed that the non-appearance of the media agency, Reuters, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) raises questions as to its commitment to the values and principles it has always projected.

“The panel’s investigations and testimonies from military and civilian sources all pointed to the fact that ICRC operates medical facilities in the North East, especially in Maiduguri, contrary to the assertion by the agency.

“In the same vein, the panel notes that despite efforts inviting them to appear before the panel, Medecins Sans Frontiere (MSF) failed to honor multiple invitations,” he said.

Receiving the document, the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice of Borno State, Hauwa A. Abubakar, called on NGOs, UN agencies, and other stakeholders to join efforts to uphold human rights and dignity across the state.

She also emphasized that a unified framework for accountability and justice could offer hope to victims and serve as a model for other regions facing similar crises.

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SECURITY

Borno Commissioner Hands Over Security Patrol Vehicle to CJTF/Vigilante of Buratai Ward in Biu LGA

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Borno Commissioner Hands Over Security Patrol Vehicle to CJTF/Vigilante of Buratai Ward in Biu LGA

 

 

The Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, today handed over a Toyota Tucama Pick Up Vehicle for operational purposes to CJTF/Vigilante Local Policing Groups of Buratai Ward, in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State.

 

Borno Commissioner Hands Over Security Patrol Vehicle to CJTF/Vigilante of Buratai Ward in Biu LGA

The presentation of the patrol vehicle followed the gracious approval of His Excellency, Gov. Babagana Umara Zulum as part of efforts to enhance the security situation in the State.

While making the presentation to the Chairman of Biu LGA who was represented by his Personal Assistant, Abdullahi Umar, the Commissioner urged the LGA to continue to support the CJTF/Vigilante members in the LGA. He also charged the CJTF/Vigilante be dedicated towards the restoration of peace and harmony in their places of assignment.

 

Responding on behalf of Buratai security outfits, the leader of the CJTF in Buratai Ward, Commander Mamman thanked Borno State Government for the timely provision of the patrol vehicle and vowed to put in their best in the discharge of their responsibilities and prayed to almighty Allah to restore peace in our state and the nation as a whole.

In attendance during the presentation were Modu Alhaji Mustapha, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry and Babagana Mustapha, Director Administration and Supply.

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