While the battle to route Boko Haram insurgents
within six weeks as promised by the Federal
government rages, an army officer, nursing the
wounds and deep feelings over the whole
incident, spoke exhaustively to Saturday
Vanguard about his battle field experiences at
Gombe and Yobe axis and why he deserted the
profession he loves so much. His narration which
runs like a ‘war memoir’ is as interesting
although the military has recorded reasonable
success with more equipment with which they
have attacked terror camps and killed a great
number of them. However we present to you an
interesting account of an officer who deserted
the army from the battle front
Excerpts:
BACKGROUND
‘’I have served Nigerian Army for about twenty
years. I enrolled through the regular course.
I have served in almost all formations in the
country. I am from the middle Belt part of the
country, married with two children, a boy and girl.
I have also served in foreign missions in Sierra-
leone, Liberia and Dafur and we always came out
in flying colours. Sierra-leone and Liberia were
for peace enforcement while Dafur was for
peace support missions. We fought real battles
at Sierra-leone and Liberia for about one year.
We were there as a member of ECOWAS and we
proved our mettle. It was popularly called
ECOMOG. The battles were tense but rewarding
in the sense that we were heavily equipped and
all we needed for the war were adequately
provided for us. During the battles we recorded
very minimal casualty though. You know that it is
difficult not to record casualties in war
situations.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LARGESSE
‘’In spite of the fact that the war was being
fought outside Nigeria, the Federal Government
of Nigeria under General Abacha provided us
with all we needed and when ever we
complained of any inadequacy, the Federal
government provided them without delay. That
was the spirit and we relished and cherished it.
It was such that we were all looking forward to
being drafted back to continue with the war. But
it is a totally different thing with the against
Boko Haram in the North Eastern part of Nigeria.
FEARS OVER ILL-PREPARATION
This is a war in which almost 95% of our soldiers
fear to join. Our fears are not that we were not
trained enough to face the challenges but simply
because we seem not to be prepared, at all, for
the war. A lot of sabotage, politics and other
extraneous factors are seriously inhibiting the
success of the war. Unfortunately, we are
loosing a lot in men and material. It is so much
that whenever the toll will be taken, the world
will weep for this country. Already, thousands of
families are in deep grief, having lost their dear
ones in the war.
As we speak, I have deserted from the battle
field at Bajoga, Yobe State. Let me give you a
vivid account of the circumstances that led to
my deserting the profession I love so much.
MY STORY
Until the unfortunate and very painful AWOL, I
was serving in Bauchi as a Sergeant. While
carrying out our normal duties, I was abreast of
the ongoing war my colleagues were waging with
Boko Haram and I was inwardly praying for an
action whenever I would be drafted to the front.
Alas, my battalion was informed of a certain
foreign mission. I was ecstatic, knowing that we
always triumphed during such missions.
Unfortunately, when the real action came, I
regretted joining the Nigerian army.
FOREIGN MISSION SIGNAL
After the signal came for the mission, we started
training from Ohafia in Abia State. Later on, we
heard that the operation had been changed from
peace keeping in Liberia to Zaman-Lafia in the
North East. We thought it was a joke and when
we finished the training at Ohafia, we were sent
to Jaji in kaduna State. It was at Jaji we realised
that the rumour of going to the North East was
true and we all knew that it meant going to fight
the insurgents called Boko Haram. We were very
sad because most of us were due for
compensation and that was why they selected
us to go for foreign mission. About 90% of us
were victims of previous attacks at Bama and
other areas and we lost both our loved ones and
properties. So, military authorities selected us for
foreign mission as a way of compensating us but
unfortunately, we were diverted to go and fight
Boko Haram insurgents.
MOVEMENT TO GOMBE
We, however, took it in good faith and after we
completed our one month training, they moved
us to Gombe. That should be around early
January this year. On arrival around 2pm the
next day, the Brigade Commander came to
address us. To our chagrin, he told us that even
members of Boko Haram were aware that we
were coming, that they had sent a text message
to him that we were coming to attack them with
the local hunters and heavy equipment and that
they were ready for us.
DISAGREEMENT WITH COMMANDER
The following day, he wanted to move us (about
600) to Mallam-Sidi area of the state but we
objected because our Commanding Officer had
not come and those heavy tanks, like the APC’s
and other supporting weapons were not equipped
for the battle ahead.
The following day when the Commanding Officer
came, he compelled us to move to the place,
saying that it would be more conducive and safe
for us to stay there than being left at the open
and ill-equipped barrack in Gombe. We then
moved to Mallam-Sidi where we spent almost
two weeks before advancing to the war front.
While we were there, they told us they were
making provision for all those weapons that were
not available. And, actually, while there, they
brought three armoured tanks, replaced some of
the APC’s that were in bad condition and brought
new ones.
MOVEMENT TO THE BATTLE FIELD
On a Sunday, precisely on the 8th of February,
around 2am, we advanced towards Bajoga, a
town between Yobe and Gombe States. We were
there before 6am. Before advancing to the battle
field,we were fed with tasteless jollof rice that
was as dinner. About 9.30 to 10 am we started
advancing to the location where the insurgents
were. While we were advancing, the three
helicopter gun -ships that we were earlier
promised would assist in the operation hovered
round and landed. Even the Alpha jet came and
all of us were jubilant and battle -ready to win at
all costs.
HOPE DASHED
However, five minutes before we met with our
target, the helicopter and alpha jet disappeared.
Even at the peak of the battle, our commander
called them for backup but they did not surface.
The battle raged for over four hours, they were
surging like locusts towards us with
sophisticated weapons including ant-aircraft
guns. In conventional wars, such weapons are
not used on human beings. They are used to fell
air crafts. But, the insurgents use them brazenly
to kill our soldiers. It tears human body into
shreds on contact.
OUR EQUIPMENT
It is pertinent to let you know how we were
equipped for the war. Before the battle, they
gave us three armoured tanks, three artillery
guns, five APC’s, grenade launchers and AK47
rifles with three magazines per soldier. But on
the day we started advancing, only one armoured
tank , five APC’s, and artillery guns advanced
with us. If we had gone into battle with, at least,
the three armoured tanks, nothing would have
made us lose the war. As the battle raged, it did
not take time for their fire power to surpass
ours.
SUICIDE BOMBING
Initially, we had upper hand, but they struck with
two golf cars loaded with bombs and dislodged
us. It was a suicide mission. The explosion
covered the whole area with thick smoke and the
insurgents used the opportunity to advance
towards us. In the process, we were asked to
withdraw because they were coming ferociously.
We were killing them but they kept on advancing
like bees. Then, it was almost 5pm.
RACE FOR SURVIVIAL
That was how the race for survival by our men
started. You know the terrain is a very open and
large expanse of land with scanty vegetation. It
was just like running in a football field with no
place to hide. We ran into a small settlement and
they pursued us. They were quite familiar with
the terrain but we were not.
We succeeded in crossing the first stagnant
river, before we noticed the presence of our
alpha jet which started backing us up. That did
not deter the insurgents from pursuing and killing
our soldiers one by one.
IT IS NOT THE WAR YOU KNOW
While we were running for dear lives, some
soldiers were falling by the wayside after losing
strength to continue with the long race for
survival. In fact, because of the fact that we
were not equipped with water bottles, our throats
were drying up as we continued running. It got
to a stage when dehydration set in and if you try
to swallow saliva, it will be almost impossible
and choking. Our spit was so white, slimy and it
splattered on the faces of most of us due to
exhaustion.
One of the most pathetic cases was that of a
colleague who got exhausted and simply
collapsed on the ground. He was even pleading
with us to continue without him because he
could no longer make it. One of our officers, a
Lieutenant pleaded that we should lend a helping
hand by jointly helping him to continue with us.
His plea touched us and we tried our best to
help but we were also too exhausted to help
offer help.
BUT THE WAR THEY FOUGHT
Nevertheless, some of us tried to help him but
we could not continue when we saw the way the
insurgents were running towards us. We dropped
him and only God knows what happened later. As
we were running, bodies of many of our soldiers,
both wounded and killed littered the open field. It
was heart-rending seeing a close friend lying
helplessly and you could not help because your
own life was in grave danger and you were not
sure of survival.
When we were about crossing the second
shallow river, the villagers we met told us that
we were in between Borno and Adamawa States,
that from there to Bajoga was 75klm.
Surprisingly, the villagers were very friendly and
even gave us water. They were about giving us
food but advised that we should quickly continue
with our journey in order to avoid the insurgents
meeting us.
They arranged three vehicles that lifted us for
about a kilometre and the driver refused to
proceed further claiming that the road was not
good. We quickly disembarked and trekked all
night till around 5am when we entered a village
and met members of the local vigilante who
helped us to arrange for two Diana Trucks that
carried us to Bajoga junction. From there, we
entered another vehicle to Mallam-Sidi and that
was where we met some of our soldiers with
serious bullet wounds.
The wounded among us pleaded with the second
in command to take them to the hospital in
Gombe but he objected saying that order has
been given to move everybody to Ashaka where
we use as harbour. After some deliberations and
objections, we had no option than to obey him.
When we got to Ashaka, to our chagrin, instead
of taking urgent care of the wounded, feeding us
and even given us a day rest after our narrow
escape, the Commander ordered that we should
turn back and advance, back to the battle field.
That was the final straw that broke the camel’s
back. At that stage, many of us decided inwardly
to dessert the army and that was exactly what
we did.
I handed my gun to one of my colleagues to
return to armoury after I left through the nearest
way in the midnight. I trekked for two hours to
the main road before I boarded a bike that
unfortunately missed the road and we saw
ourselves back at Ashaka.
I then disappeared amongst the crowd at one of
the checkpoints and went to the motor park
where I boarded a vehicle towards Abuja. It took
time for me to take that decision because this is
a profession I love so much and I have put in
about 20 years. Agreed that from day one, we
signed to fight and die for our dear country, but
of what use will it be when it was obvious to me
that things could be done differently and we
would have results. For instance, we were
supposed to be paid N5000 daily but what our
Commanders paid was N1000.
If you sustain injury in the battle field, you spend
your money treating yourself. The worst is that
we were not adequately equipped for the war.
We only got to battle field with our rifles, no kits,
no vision goggles etc and this is an oil rich
country where politicians are embezzle trillions
yet, this battle that calls for the best in both
incentives, morale and equipment is being fought
this way at the grave expense of our dear lives.
Our military is strong and can do better if well
funded and equipped. As I speak, many soldiers
have deserted the army.
Their families are starving in the barracks. The
most painful aspect of the whole thing is that
after the battle, no efforts were made to
ascertain or give account of our dead and
wounded soldiers. The dead ones are left in the
battle fields while most of the wounded die face
agonising death. What the authorities do is to
close account of soldiers not seen after some
time days.
In the past few days, however, it has been
reported that the military has received more
equipment and their forces have made
reasonable inroads into terrorists camps and
they have recorded reasonable success although
the battle is far from being won.
within six weeks as promised by the Federal
government rages, an army officer, nursing the
wounds and deep feelings over the whole
Vanguard about his battle field experiences at
Gombe and Yobe axis and why he deserted the
profession he loves so much. His narration which
runs like a ‘war memoir’ is as interesting
although the military has recorded reasonable
success with more equipment with which they
have attacked terror camps and killed a great
number of them. However we present to you an
interesting account of an officer who deserted
the army from the battle front
Excerpts:
BACKGROUND
‘’I have served Nigerian Army for about twenty
years. I enrolled through the regular course.
I have served in almost all formations in the
country. I am from the middle Belt part of the
country, married with two children, a boy and girl.
I have also served in foreign missions in Sierra-
leone, Liberia and Dafur and we always came out
in flying colours. Sierra-leone and Liberia were
for peace enforcement while Dafur was for
peace support missions. We fought real battles
at Sierra-leone and Liberia for about one year.
We were there as a member of ECOWAS and we
proved our mettle. It was popularly called
ECOMOG. The battles were tense but rewarding
in the sense that we were heavily equipped and
all we needed for the war were adequately
provided for us. During the battles we recorded
very minimal casualty though. You know that it is
difficult not to record casualties in war
situations.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LARGESSE
‘’In spite of the fact that the war was being
fought outside Nigeria, the Federal Government
of Nigeria under General Abacha provided us
with all we needed and when ever we
complained of any inadequacy, the Federal
government provided them without delay. That
was the spirit and we relished and cherished it.
It was such that we were all looking forward to
being drafted back to continue with the war. But
it is a totally different thing with the against
Boko Haram in the North Eastern part of Nigeria.
FEARS OVER ILL-PREPARATION
This is a war in which almost 95% of our soldiers
fear to join. Our fears are not that we were not
trained enough to face the challenges but simply
because we seem not to be prepared, at all, for
the war. A lot of sabotage, politics and other
extraneous factors are seriously inhibiting the
success of the war. Unfortunately, we are
loosing a lot in men and material. It is so much
that whenever the toll will be taken, the world
will weep for this country. Already, thousands of
families are in deep grief, having lost their dear
ones in the war.
As we speak, I have deserted from the battle
field at Bajoga, Yobe State. Let me give you a
vivid account of the circumstances that led to
my deserting the profession I love so much.
MY STORY
Until the unfortunate and very painful AWOL, I
was serving in Bauchi as a Sergeant. While
carrying out our normal duties, I was abreast of
the ongoing war my colleagues were waging with
Boko Haram and I was inwardly praying for an
action whenever I would be drafted to the front.
Alas, my battalion was informed of a certain
foreign mission. I was ecstatic, knowing that we
always triumphed during such missions.
Unfortunately, when the real action came, I
regretted joining the Nigerian army.
FOREIGN MISSION SIGNAL
After the signal came for the mission, we started
training from Ohafia in Abia State. Later on, we
heard that the operation had been changed from
peace keeping in Liberia to Zaman-Lafia in the
North East. We thought it was a joke and when
we finished the training at Ohafia, we were sent
to Jaji in kaduna State. It was at Jaji we realised
that the rumour of going to the North East was
true and we all knew that it meant going to fight
the insurgents called Boko Haram. We were very
sad because most of us were due for
compensation and that was why they selected
us to go for foreign mission. About 90% of us
were victims of previous attacks at Bama and
other areas and we lost both our loved ones and
properties. So, military authorities selected us for
foreign mission as a way of compensating us but
unfortunately, we were diverted to go and fight
Boko Haram insurgents.
MOVEMENT TO GOMBE
We, however, took it in good faith and after we
completed our one month training, they moved
us to Gombe. That should be around early
January this year. On arrival around 2pm the
next day, the Brigade Commander came to
address us. To our chagrin, he told us that even
members of Boko Haram were aware that we
were coming, that they had sent a text message
to him that we were coming to attack them with
the local hunters and heavy equipment and that
they were ready for us.
DISAGREEMENT WITH COMMANDER
The following day, he wanted to move us (about
600) to Mallam-Sidi area of the state but we
objected because our Commanding Officer had
not come and those heavy tanks, like the APC’s
and other supporting weapons were not equipped
for the battle ahead.
The following day when the Commanding Officer
came, he compelled us to move to the place,
saying that it would be more conducive and safe
for us to stay there than being left at the open
and ill-equipped barrack in Gombe. We then
moved to Mallam-Sidi where we spent almost
two weeks before advancing to the war front.
While we were there, they told us they were
making provision for all those weapons that were
not available. And, actually, while there, they
brought three armoured tanks, replaced some of
the APC’s that were in bad condition and brought
new ones.
MOVEMENT TO THE BATTLE FIELD
On a Sunday, precisely on the 8th of February,
around 2am, we advanced towards Bajoga, a
town between Yobe and Gombe States. We were
there before 6am. Before advancing to the battle
field,we were fed with tasteless jollof rice that
was as dinner. About 9.30 to 10 am we started
advancing to the location where the insurgents
were. While we were advancing, the three
helicopter gun -ships that we were earlier
promised would assist in the operation hovered
round and landed. Even the Alpha jet came and
all of us were jubilant and battle -ready to win at
all costs.
HOPE DASHED
However, five minutes before we met with our
target, the helicopter and alpha jet disappeared.
Even at the peak of the battle, our commander
called them for backup but they did not surface.
The battle raged for over four hours, they were
surging like locusts towards us with
sophisticated weapons including ant-aircraft
guns. In conventional wars, such weapons are
not used on human beings. They are used to fell
air crafts. But, the insurgents use them brazenly
to kill our soldiers. It tears human body into
shreds on contact.
OUR EQUIPMENT
It is pertinent to let you know how we were
equipped for the war. Before the battle, they
gave us three armoured tanks, three artillery
guns, five APC’s, grenade launchers and AK47
rifles with three magazines per soldier. But on
the day we started advancing, only one armoured
tank , five APC’s, and artillery guns advanced
with us. If we had gone into battle with, at least,
the three armoured tanks, nothing would have
made us lose the war. As the battle raged, it did
not take time for their fire power to surpass
ours.
SUICIDE BOMBING
Initially, we had upper hand, but they struck with
two golf cars loaded with bombs and dislodged
us. It was a suicide mission. The explosion
covered the whole area with thick smoke and the
insurgents used the opportunity to advance
towards us. In the process, we were asked to
withdraw because they were coming ferociously.
We were killing them but they kept on advancing
like bees. Then, it was almost 5pm.
RACE FOR SURVIVIAL
That was how the race for survival by our men
started. You know the terrain is a very open and
large expanse of land with scanty vegetation. It
was just like running in a football field with no
place to hide. We ran into a small settlement and
they pursued us. They were quite familiar with
the terrain but we were not.
We succeeded in crossing the first stagnant
river, before we noticed the presence of our
alpha jet which started backing us up. That did
not deter the insurgents from pursuing and killing
our soldiers one by one.
IT IS NOT THE WAR YOU KNOW
While we were running for dear lives, some
soldiers were falling by the wayside after losing
strength to continue with the long race for
survival. In fact, because of the fact that we
were not equipped with water bottles, our throats
were drying up as we continued running. It got
to a stage when dehydration set in and if you try
to swallow saliva, it will be almost impossible
and choking. Our spit was so white, slimy and it
splattered on the faces of most of us due to
exhaustion.
One of the most pathetic cases was that of a
colleague who got exhausted and simply
collapsed on the ground. He was even pleading
with us to continue without him because he
could no longer make it. One of our officers, a
Lieutenant pleaded that we should lend a helping
hand by jointly helping him to continue with us.
His plea touched us and we tried our best to
help but we were also too exhausted to help
offer help.
BUT THE WAR THEY FOUGHT
Nevertheless, some of us tried to help him but
we could not continue when we saw the way the
insurgents were running towards us. We dropped
him and only God knows what happened later. As
we were running, bodies of many of our soldiers,
both wounded and killed littered the open field. It
was heart-rending seeing a close friend lying
helplessly and you could not help because your
own life was in grave danger and you were not
sure of survival.
When we were about crossing the second
shallow river, the villagers we met told us that
we were in between Borno and Adamawa States,
that from there to Bajoga was 75klm.
Surprisingly, the villagers were very friendly and
even gave us water. They were about giving us
food but advised that we should quickly continue
with our journey in order to avoid the insurgents
meeting us.
They arranged three vehicles that lifted us for
about a kilometre and the driver refused to
proceed further claiming that the road was not
good. We quickly disembarked and trekked all
night till around 5am when we entered a village
and met members of the local vigilante who
helped us to arrange for two Diana Trucks that
carried us to Bajoga junction. From there, we
entered another vehicle to Mallam-Sidi and that
was where we met some of our soldiers with
serious bullet wounds.
The wounded among us pleaded with the second
in command to take them to the hospital in
Gombe but he objected saying that order has
been given to move everybody to Ashaka where
we use as harbour. After some deliberations and
objections, we had no option than to obey him.
When we got to Ashaka, to our chagrin, instead
of taking urgent care of the wounded, feeding us
and even given us a day rest after our narrow
escape, the Commander ordered that we should
turn back and advance, back to the battle field.
That was the final straw that broke the camel’s
back. At that stage, many of us decided inwardly
to dessert the army and that was exactly what
we did.
I handed my gun to one of my colleagues to
return to armoury after I left through the nearest
way in the midnight. I trekked for two hours to
the main road before I boarded a bike that
unfortunately missed the road and we saw
ourselves back at Ashaka.
I then disappeared amongst the crowd at one of
the checkpoints and went to the motor park
where I boarded a vehicle towards Abuja. It took
time for me to take that decision because this is
a profession I love so much and I have put in
about 20 years. Agreed that from day one, we
signed to fight and die for our dear country, but
of what use will it be when it was obvious to me
that things could be done differently and we
would have results. For instance, we were
supposed to be paid N5000 daily but what our
Commanders paid was N1000.
If you sustain injury in the battle field, you spend
your money treating yourself. The worst is that
we were not adequately equipped for the war.
We only got to battle field with our rifles, no kits,
no vision goggles etc and this is an oil rich
country where politicians are embezzle trillions
yet, this battle that calls for the best in both
incentives, morale and equipment is being fought
this way at the grave expense of our dear lives.
Our military is strong and can do better if well
funded and equipped. As I speak, many soldiers
have deserted the army.
Their families are starving in the barracks. The
most painful aspect of the whole thing is that
after the battle, no efforts were made to
ascertain or give account of our dead and
wounded soldiers. The dead ones are left in the
battle fields while most of the wounded die face
agonising death. What the authorities do is to
close account of soldiers not seen after some
time days.
In the past few days, however, it has been
reported that the military has received more
equipment and their forces have made
reasonable inroads into terrorists camps and
they have recorded reasonable success although
the battle is far from being won.