Reps to Probe Resignation of 356 Soldiers Despite Boko Haram War

The House of Representatives has agreed to investigate the voluntary resignation of about 356 soldiers from the Nigeria Army despite the ongoing insecurities in the country.

In a motion moved by Mohammed Monguno, Chief Whip and co-sponsored by Deputy Whip, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu; and Deputy Minority Leader, Toby Okechukwu and titled “Need to Investigate the Purported Voluntary Resignation of Over 365 Soldiers from the Nigerian Army”, Monguno said the Nigeria Army with about 200,000 soldiers has the responsibility to take charge of land warfare operations as well as defend the territorial integrity of the nation.

He, however, said despite the challenges being faced by the nation amid unending Boko Haram war, several videos have shown soldiers complaining of poor allowances, mismanagement and embezzlement of funds meant for their welfare.

Monguno said, “The House is aware that on several occasions Nigerian soldiers have disobeyed orders from superior officers in protest against poor welfare arrangements and alleged embezzlement of allowances due them by their superiors. There have been cases of mutiny resulting in sporadic shooting and attempt lynching of senior officers.

“Recently, Major General Olusegun Adeniyi, Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Nigeria‘s counter-terrorism headquarters, was removed for complaining about inferior military wares and poor equipment of troops, while briefing the Chief of Army Staff from combat zone after successfully repelling an attack from Boko Haram insurgents.

“The House is concerned that not too long ago, the General Officer Commanding, 7 Division, of the Nigeria Army in Maimalari, Major General Victor Ezegwu, escaped being lynched by rampaging soldiers for leaving them with neither food nor water while fighting in the northeastern part of the country for two days.

“The House is further concerned that on the 3rd of July 2020, via a (a memo with) Reference Number NA/COAS/001, 356 soldiers, which is a battalion, serving in the North-East 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.”

The Chief Whip added that “the House was disturbed that military sources had attributed the massive resignations to loss of morale, unimproved allowances, mass casualties in the hands of Boko Haram terrorists due to lack of intelligence apparatus and fighting equipment as well as poor welfare packages for them and their families by the army authorities.”