THE MILITARY IN DEATHS FILTHY GARBS

All through this year I paid attention to the Nigerian military because my travels in the hinterland of Nigeria led me on the paths where they operate their “Checking-Points”. As I   go to work, whenever I travel to my hometown, am beset with a plethora of road check-in points manned by security men, armed with  guns (I think they call them AK-47’s or so) and looking so intimidating. I often find their presence annoying, either because I blame them for the traffic build up or because I feel that this tactic of slowing cars down is really not a good anti-terrorist tactic….in my opinion ooo.

However something happened with time. I began to empathize with these men and women who stand, with the AK-47’s all dressed up, under the sun and in the rain; against all odds and in the interest of Nigerians. I have come to respect these men and women who give up their lives daily to ensure that there is some sanity in my Country. I try to envision hurting young women, children and men who have lost loved ones on account of this crisis situation in Nigeria. I have come to respect these foot soldiers and look beyond my mini inconvenience of traffic  for maximum of say 30 minutes, I have come to look at the issue through humane eyes.

My concern at the moment is the purpose of the law in the sentencing of the Military officers to death for mutiny against the Grand Officer Commanding (hereinafter referred to as the GOC) on Tuesday 16^th September 2014. The sentencing of the Military Officers at a time of low morale for the Nigerian Military (Hereinafter referred to as “the Military “) and the war against terrorism with Boko Haram the dreaded Bomb blasting, nay kidnapping, nay anti-western-education-peeps  Vs broadcasting their successes on the Internet via Youtube in Enlish, nay suicide bombers nay…the list could go on and on; hereinafter referred to as “The insurgents” leaves much to be desired. In consequence wherefore I posit as follows:

1. Monday August 25 2014 we heard of the military scampering or rather “tactically maneuvering” to  Cameroon in the face of the insurgents attack on them. (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/167337-boko-haram-apc-tackles-jonathan-over-escape-of-nigerian-soldiers-into-cameroon.html#sthash.OlhVofw8.dpbs)
2. A little later we heard that the military in Maiduguri started evacuating their families from the barracks in Maiduguri in face of the Boko Haram’s threat to invade Maiduguri… that story was refuted.
3. Yet a little later we heard that Bama in Borno State a major town near Maiduguri the State Capital was overtaken…or not…
4. Then a few days later while the dispute still surged as to who actually had control over Bama (The military or the insurgents) we heard that Mubi in Michika was taken over by the Insurgents.

These insurgents are serious about their mission. They intend to establish a Caliphate taking a cue from the ISIS  in Iraq and Syria. It seems  “if ISIS can do it we can do it, enough with this kidnapping.” And here we were thinking that the Ebola Virus Disease had scared them as well because for a while they too seemed quite.

Furthermore:

5. In May 2014, Four (4) soldiers were ambushed and killed during a rescue mission to find the missing Chibok girls (#BringBackOurGirls…it trended internationally). This happened while they were responding to a directive to return to base at night, against their better judgment and request  to defer the journey till morning.  Their superior insisted, the soldiers obeyed and the soldiers were killed.
6. In the opinion of their fellow Military colleagues their deaths were avoidable.
7. Prior to this there were rounds of stories in some online newspapers with videos buttressing these allegations that the military on the ground, in the thick of this fight against terrorism were not being treated well, in terms of their basic needs, equipment, arms and ammunition which they claimed were far inferior to those of the insurgents.
8. It appeared the essential things they require to do their work were not provided for them. Feeding and shelter, the basics a soldier will need since he is not guaranteed comfort , it appears were not provided for. He is contracted by the Nation to ensure security of his territory (Dogon turanchi).Former chairman of NBA, Ikeja branch, Monday Ubani, said “We must take into cognisance, the circumstances in which they have to fire at their boss. They have been denied enough equipment while there. Most of them have been sent to that warfront without a proper welfare.”
9. So take this scenario and paint it with a GOC who decides to then visit and commiserate with these soldiers after the death of their colleagues.
10. These soldiers think to themselves “it could have been me, then what happens to my family,my wife, my kids, and my future in the army, with such a poor and hectic pension “Scheme”. What happens to that promotion I have been looking forward to?”
11. In the heat of passion they welcome their boss, the GOC with gun shots “in the air” (or so I read at the time)
12. Later on I read the shots were “fired at the car of the GOC” …It did sound like insubordination to me, also because I know from Movies, Books and what is said, soldiers are supposed to be both “an officer and a gentleman” The soldiers from 101 Battalion, who were arraigned before a Court Martial, had, on May 14 2014, allegedly opened fire on a convoy conveying the 7 Division Commander, General Amadu Mohammed, at an army medical centre in Maiduguri.  (http://www.tribune.com.ng/news/top-stories/item/16244-death-sentence-on-mutinous-soldiers-nigerians-wait-on-jonathan-tuc-rejects-judgment-rescind-capital-punishment-nba-tells-fg)
13. So these guys were paraded before a military tribunal as their governing law provides, tried, convicted and finally sentenced to death for mutiny.
14. Now the breadth of my argument…what purpose is the law supposed to serve? Can justice in this regard be said to have been justly meted out? I learnt there is no room for civility in the army.
15. In a period of low morale for the soldiers would it not have been better to commute the sentence for a lesser one?
16. The law looks at the intent of a man’s actions. Can it be said justifiably that they acted with proper intent? Or can it be said that the act of the GOC in commanding those killed officers to head out at night a proper intent. If so who should serve a death sentence. Some will say it was in the line of duty but for heavens sake does it mean a superior should act against his better judgment without a supporting strategy to ensure the safety of his men in a war that is already seemingly being lost to the insurgents. (No one will admit this part of the story, my  pedestrian Nigerian experience tells me otherwise.
17. In my opinion the Military needs to boost the morale of the soldiers, not by condoning every act of rebellion but neither by punishing already discouraged soldiers with a death penalty.Is a death sentence for 12 Soldiers in Nigeria, in the face of the adamant war by the insurgents to take over Nigeria in a slow albeit steady manner justifiable? Alegeh, who stated this in Abuja, while inaugurating the NBA Committee on Constitutional Reforms of the association, said “military laws are recognised in our constitution, and those who have been sentenced to death have the right to appeal the judgment. “However, we are losing so many of our soldiers to violent  activities  of insurgents. So, why do we want to kill them? The country should consider these soldiers and rescind the capital punishment.” (http://www.tribune.com.ng/news/top-stories/item/16244-death-sentence-on-mutinous-soldiers-nigerians-wait-on-jonathan-tuc-rejects-judgment-rescind-capital-punishment-nba-tells-fg)
18. Pray tell…Nigerian Military!! Were these guys fundamentally wrong?
19. Thankfully they have the right to appeal.