It is a mandate worldwide as the last line of defence of any country. That is the role of the military as specified by the constitution of Nigeria. Since its establishment, the military no doubt has lived up to this constitutional expectations. Although the Nigerian civil war really gave it an international dent and this was further aggravated with its involvement in upstaging Nigerian democratic process as military leaders used the country nascent democracy to perfect their military strategic trainings in coup plotting.
While the country was grappling with this international nuisance, the country became an anathema in world community circle. She was taunted and ridiculed and cast away like disused garbage. Nigerians in Diaspora suffered sequel to this ugly situation. A utopian normalcy started creeping into the country when we tried to dust off the past and re- embrace democracy. Unfortunately, instead of us starting from the starting point, we preferred to start the race from the middle thereby compounding issues. In other countries with similar experience, children were the first target of re-orientation and indoctrination of what morality is, what discipline is, what national security is, what national values are and what the life of a person is worth and its value. We left what ought to be done and started chasing shadows. Apart from the drifting, our security community was left bare without any standard arrangements. They were left like an orphan to the whims of the Nigerian people. Before our very eyes, the major security institution, the Nigeria police, started stepping on the masses toes and this attracted public odium and hatred and before our eyes the Nigeria police lost its integrity on the platform of high handedness. Despite effort by previous Inspector-Generals of Police to reconcile the police and members of the public, it seems like climbing a mountain. No wonder the police today have a herculean task in warming itself back into the heart of the people who usually provide information about criminals. This was not the same situation with the military who, after the civil war painstakingly redeemed its battered image and in no distant time was able to warm itself into the heart of members of the public and even to the global community. In no time, the recognition it got further enhanced its integrity and many of its personnel were invited to participate in foreign mission operations across the world war zones. The military consequently became the “good” baby of the country until the country enmeshed in internal insecurity problems in both the Niger Delta axis and the North West part of the country where insurgency was brewing. Political leaders saw the new war zones as a veritable opportunity to amass wealth, same with past military leaders . Then emerged the Buhari administration which appointed Lieutenant General Tukur Brutai as the Chief of Army staff (COAS) and has renewed his tenure together with those of other service Chiefs. The issue disturbing every keen observer of the security situation in the country is the boggling question, if the military is not getting messed up by politicians as it wades into virtually every insecurity situation in the country. More often, the military have come under the searchlight of two International organizations like the Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International for several wrong doings and alleged reprisal for the killing of their colleagues. When it is not revenge, they are carrying out military exercises code named, “Exercise Crocodile Smile,” “Python Dance” and many of such exercises around the country. Even more worrisome is former Minister of Defence General Theophilus Danjuma’s allegation of military complicity in the insecurity around the middle belt region of the country. It is however heart-warming that the military did not engage its former boss in any “Python dance” but exercised wise disposition by setting up an investigative team that has already submitted its report. The urgency attached to the exercise and the submission of the pier finding has gone a long way to further showcase the military as one institution that is ready to avert controversy that may rob off on it. General Brutai successes should not be allowed to be rubbished on the platform of political insensitivity of Nigerian. The military presently is the last hope of the country seeing that the police have refused to change due to ineffective and inefficient leadership that has severally exhibited lack of knowledge. If not, how does one explain the incessant killings in Benue state and other parts of the country. In other climate, only one of such mass killing would have seen the back of the police chief. Why the killings are more surprising is the fact that the police has enough personnel in the local government areas of Benue State, with several Divisional Police Officers, Area commands and State command all having hundreds of police personnel, yet these killings are going on unabated. Truly, it is on record that despite the overwhelming Insecurity in the country, especially in the North East, where much manpower and resources have been lost due to the over a decade of war against insurgency. Such battle is not only engaging but the society must show solidarity and extend much goodness to the military as they try in saving the country from the clutches of the Boko Haram terrorist group which is trying to change the narrative by dragging in a more dangerous International terrorist group known as ISIS. This is why the military should not be unnecessary dragged into any political, ethnic controversy that would be distractive. We should not be seen to frustrate or distract the military as we march into the electioneering year.
Hoodlums invade Abuja
The frequent news of attacks on innocent residents of the Federal capital territory has started increasing to an alarming level. On the day this writer was viciously attacked, another person was rushed to the same hospital with his ear chopped off by robbers who made away with his phone. It is becoming clear that some of them are remnants of the escaped insurgents and layabouts in the Internally Displaced Persons (lDP) camps in Abuja. The FCY police command should buckle up their operational strategies to stop and assure residents of the needed safety.