Hold our government responsible for Boko Haram

Information on the public shows there is a conspiracy to kill the citizens and point accusing fingers to the Boko Haram sects. Daily Trust May 22 2014 report written by Musa Abdullahi Krishi titled we were barred from repelling Gamboru attack troubles the mind and further indicts President Goodluck Jonathan government of conspiracy. According to […]

Information on the public shows there is a conspiracy to kill the citizens and point accusing fingers to the Boko Haram sects. Daily Trust May 22 2014 report written by Musa Abdullahi Krishi titled we were barred from repelling Gamboru attack troubles the mind and further indicts President Goodluck Jonathan government of conspiracy. According to the report, a Nigerian soldier in Borno state confirmed, Boko Haram attacked Gamboru-Ngala in our presence while our commander asked us not to repel the attack. The soldier told BBC Hausa Service, choppers were hovering in the air while the attacks were ongoing, 300 people killed, houses and a market burnt while soldiers watch that happened and were ordered not to render assistance to those been attacked. My colleagues and I became afraid from what we saw. He further said, Boko Haram insurgency can only come to end when the army superior officers cease to fuel it.
Mike Omeri, chairman, National Information Centre on security and Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, who is now the mouthpiece of the government on the insurgency, has countered the report and termed it baseless allegations. It is easy for the likes of Mike Omeri to defend the conspiracy and incompetency of Goodluck Jonathan government while numerous Nigerians die on daily basis. The likes of Mike Omeri should also tell Nigerians why some angry soldiers on May 14th, 2014 shot the General Officer Command, 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Ahmadu Mohammed. Omeri and his likes must know that the mutiny portends danger to the survival and existent of Nigerian state.
In another account, SaharaReporters on May, 16 2014, published a report titled War against Boko Haram: Nigerian Soldiers Say They Are Ill-Equipped, Betrayed by Commanders, Authorities in Abuja. According to the report, Nigerian soldiers combating Boko Haram insurgents are disappointed with their commanding officers as well as political authorities in Abuja, especially Minister of Defence Aliyu Gusau. They said their weapons are inadequate and inferior, and their commanders focus more in making money rather fighting the insurgence. Their welfare is disregarded and lack of concerned and respect for soldiers that lose their lives in the insurgence battle calls for a concern.  Some of them said, lack of motivation has made many soldiers ran away from their duty post.
At the abductions of Chibok girls, a soldier in an interview told SaharaReporters, we were ordered to arrest vehicles carrying the girls, “Just as we started the mission, was another order, we should pull back, I can assure you, nobody gave us any directives to look for anybody, a soldier told SaharaReporters. Also some of the soldiers said, they suspect their commanders reveal military operations to Boko Haram sect.
In another narrative, a retired army officer in Abuja told SaharaReporters, a serious investigation on arms procurement must be carried out. “Our soldiers are exposed to serious danger when they go to war. They are given tanks that explode when enemy fire it, they are given bulletproof helmets that are punctured easily. Also foreign correspondent stated, some President Goodluck Jonathan’s aides are voicing displeasure with Mr Gusau’s leadership in handling insurgence.
On May 18th, 2014, a Nigerian daily online journal published, ‘army Generals selling weapons to Boko Haram’, (nine serving Generals to face court-martial for treason). Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Minimah leads the investigation. If this appears to be true, our problem is beyond what we see on the surface, and we must prepare for more crisis and insurgence ahead.
In the usual Nigeria way of debunking claims, the Nigerian Army on May 21st, 2014 held a press conference and maintained its ground, it is not corrupt. Director of Army Public Relations, Brig-General Olajide Laleye alleged plans by some people with their international collaborators to discredit the Army and its efforts in fighting insurgency. We agree army is not corrupt, but why has insurgency and insecurity continue to thrive despite trillions expended in curbing them? Why have some soldiers abandoned their duty post and ran away? Why have the soldiers turn their guns against their commanders as against Boko Haram sect.
The government of President Goodluck Jonathan lack of commitment to ending Boko Haram insurgence became apparent on May 22nd 2014 when he told #BringBackOurGirls protesters, direct your protests at the terrorist not me. This show in a clear term, the commander in chief does not believe he has the responsibility to protect lives of his citizens and should not be blamed for state failure.
One thing is clear; the foot soldiers that are consistently killed on the battle field by the Boko Haram sects may likely form a militia group in a reprisal attack against the army hierarchy and the government. Second Mutiny in Maimalari Barracks on the 22nd of May 2014 where the angry soldiers attempted to shoot Brigadier General M.Y. Ibrahim, General Officer Commanding the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army is a pointer case of early warning signs. Sources say unpaid allowance and suffering melted to them by their commanding officers was responsible for the muting. When that happens, the government will be happy, because  that will open another window of opportunity for public monies to be stolen and be unaccounted for, further buttressing the fact, in Nigeria more monies are stolen when the state is in crisis, therefore we must prepare to see more state caused crisis in future.
We must come out of the illusion that peace will return to Nigeria soon, corruption, impunity and conflict entrepreneur are fuelling the insurgence. The government knows those who have stolen the monies meant for security, but cares less about accountability. Having followed conflict trend in Nigeria, it is apparent, state actors and non state actors do not care to stem conflict in Nigeria but rather concentrate on how to utilize the opportunity to make billions of naira and dollars, become relevant and dominate both local and foreign media.

Oseni can be reached at [email protected]