Nigerian Soldiers fighting insurgency are reportedly deserting their
posts in the North East.
Newsmen gathered that the soldiers allegedly complained
they have stayed so long on the battle field.
Top military sources in Abuja said that the soldiers, some
of whom have stayed over three years in the region, are deserting the army at
the slightest opportunity.
of whom have stayed over three years in the region, are deserting the army at
the slightest opportunity.
These opportunities include getting “pass,” an official
document of permit given to military personnel to travel out of their areas of
operation.
document of permit given to military personnel to travel out of their areas of
operation.
Some of them didn’t return to their base, it was learnt.
Most of the deserters, Daily Sun learnt, are young soldiers.
A top-ranking army source said this year alone, the army has
recorded a high number of deserters but the authorities have refused to
disclose the specific number.
It was gathered that while the Nigerian Air Force ensure
their personnel deployed to the north east do not stay more than one year
before they are rotated and replaced with fresh personnel, those in the army
have not been so lucky as some have been in the North East since 2013.
Some troops of 242 Battalion who were drawn from Badagry,
Lagos, in between June and November, 2013 are still serving in the North East.
Aside 242 Battalion, troops of 93 Battalion Takum and their
counterparts from another 333 Air Defence Artillery, who are scattered all over
the North East are still in the region.
Troops of 5 Brigade, who are scattered around Mungono,
Banki, Maiduguri, and Gubio, are also said to have spent more than two years at
the warfront.
Some personnel who spoke to Daily Sun, narrated how some
soldiers deliberately deserted the
warfront after getting the mandatory pass, under the ruse of travelling to see
their families.
“They said the pass, which is not more than two weeks, is
given to personnel after spending six months in the frontline, was not enough
for them to solve family problems which emanated as a result of their absence
and it did not give them enough time to stay with their children.
“Others said their long absence has resulted in broken homes
where some wives have had to divorce their husbands.”
It was also gathered that there has been reported cases of
women carrying pregnancies of other men in the absence of their husbands.
Another source said “our long absence and separation from
our families have ended up turning some of our wives to harlots because there
are some soldiers, when they come back on pass, they find their wives pregnant
and the authorities knows about this because we always report such cases.
our families have ended up turning some of our wives to harlots because there
are some soldiers, when they come back on pass, they find their wives pregnant
and the authorities knows about this because we always report such cases.
“For some of us, our female children are beginning to sleep
around and our sons engage in one criminal activity or the other all because
their fathers are not at home…”
around and our sons engage in one criminal activity or the other all because
their fathers are not at home…”
When contacted, Acting Director of Army/Public Relations,
Colonel Sani Usman dismissed reports that soldiers are deserting the warfront.
Colonel Sani Usman dismissed reports that soldiers are deserting the warfront.
He said the army has worked out a rotation plan of soldiers
who have overstayed in the North East
and insisted the plan has commenced in earnest.
who have overstayed in the North East
and insisted the plan has commenced in earnest.
“We have started with the unit in Badagry, 112 Special
Forces and some other ones.
Forces and some other ones.
“It is a gradual process but, I want you to understand is
that you don’t pull people out of their locations just like that without taking
into consideration other things.
that you don’t pull people out of their locations just like that without taking
into consideration other things.
“Right now, there is a unit of the army at Jaji who are
undergoing post-deployment training because of the traumatic stress they went
through.
undergoing post-deployment training because of the traumatic stress they went
through.
“So, you have to prepare a unit to go into battle, it’s not
an easy thing. There is an established procedure of going in and pulling out.
an easy thing. There is an established procedure of going in and pulling out.
Those that are going in go to our Special Forces Training
School at Buni-Yadi.
School at Buni-Yadi.
“Then, they will gradually change the unit and the unit will
be repatriated to Jaji and go through induction training before they are
reunited with their families”.
be repatriated to Jaji and go through induction training before they are
reunited with their families”.
“So, it is not correct that soldiers are deserting the
warfront because they have over-stayed there.
warfront because they have over-stayed there.
“I would have that you oblige me with the particulars of
those soldiers who ran away because they have not been rotated.”
those soldiers who ran away because they have not been rotated.”
