group of Nigerian Army officers involved in operations against Islamist insurgents tagged “Operation Zaman Lafiya” have written an open letter detailing a series of problems bedeviling their military operations. In addition, the officers called on President Goodluck Jonathan to investigate massive looting of funds meant for military operations. They also urged President Barack Obama of the United States and United Nations Secretary General Banki Moon to put pressure on Mr. Jonathan to engage in fighting a more focused war on Islamist terrorSaharaReporters obtained the open letter titled “State of Operations In The North East As Observed By Some Concerned Officers.” The open letter began, “We the concerned officers participating in the North East Operation Zaman Lafiya do resolve to write this letter for the following reasons: 

a. to save our country Nigeria; 

b. to stop the bloodshed of innocent officers, soldiers and civilians in the North East; 

c. to appeal to the President of the United State[s] of America Mr. Barack Obama, United Nation Secretary General Mr. Banki Moon and other world leaders to as quickly as important intervene and urge President Goodluck Jonathan to do the needful in addressing the issue of insurgency in Nigeria especially in the North East.”

The officers who authored the letter said they were initially reluctant to air their grievances in the open in order not to boost the morale of insurgents, but added that troops fighting Boko Haram, a terrorist Islamist sect that has seized a significant swathe of territory in Nigeria’s northeast zone, have been equipped poorly. In addition, the officers accused Mr. Jonathan of condoning the looting of funds meant for the war against the insurgents. They specifically alleged that “Chief of Training and Operations, Major General J.A.H. Ewansiha” was a major looter of security funds. In addition, the letter stated that it was well known that Mr. Jonathan’s ADC had illicitly acquired stupendous wealth that has enabled him to buy up expensive homes in Nigeria and abroad.