Reps To Investigate Resignation Of 365 Soldiers

The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the sudden resignation of 365 soldiers from the Nigerian Army.

The House took this resolution after adopting a motion moved by the Chief Whip, Mohammed Monguno, and co-sponsored by Deputy Whip, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu; and Deputy Minority Leader, Toby Okechukwu at the plenary on Tuesday.

The motion which was entitled, ‘Need to Investigate the Purported Voluntary Resignation of Over 365 Soldiers from the Nigerian Army’, noting the soldiers tendered their resignation due to alleged embezzlement of allowances and inferior military hardware.

Monguno in his motion linked the recent exposé by Lance Corporal Martins Idakpein to the mass resignation.

“On the 22nd of June 2020, a lance corporal in the Nigerian Army, Martins Idakpein made an online video where he condemned the attitude of the Service Chiefs towards the attacks and killing of Nigerians and soldiers as well as untold hardship soldiers face while conducting combat operations,” Monguno stated.

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Recall that the approval of the voluntary resignation of the 356 soldiers was contained in a 17-page circular from Buratai, AHQ DOAA/G1/300/92, signed by Brig-Gen T.E. Gagariga, for the army chief.

Adopting the motion, the House mandated its Committee on Army to “investigate these allegations and report back in one week”.

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 an (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.”

“Military sources blamed low morale and mass casualty for such resignations. If this is not brought under check by having disgruntled soldiers in the society without job security, it may become a major security threat.”

The Committee on Army was mandated to investigate the circumstances surrounding the mass resignation.