Nigerian Troops ill-equipped for war in mali
There are speculations that due to lack of adequate training and discipline, the over 1,200 Nigeria troops would not be directly involved in combat operations to oust the militiamen from the northern region of Mali.

A United Kingdom (UK)-based newspaper, The Guardian,on its website yesterday alleged that men of the Nigerian Army deployed in Mali lacked the capacity to fight on the front line.

The paper quoted a senior source in Mali that the military contingent from Nigeria lacks the needed training and discipline to be relied upon to oust the Islamists from northern Mali prompting suggestions that the role of the men would be limited to security and logistics.

“The Nigerian Army is in a shocking state,” said the source, “in reality there is no way they are capable of forward operations in Mali – their role is more likely to be limited to manning checkpoints and loading trucks.


“The Nigerian forces lack training and kit, so they simply don’t have the capability to carry out even basic military manoeuvres. They have poor discipline and support. They are more likely to play a behind-the-scenes role in logistics and providing security.”

The source added that under plans for the enforcement of a United Nations (UN) Security Council-backed military intervention in Mali, Nigeria, alongside troops belonging to member states of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) are expected to lead forward operations.

The reality on ground as reported by the paper may have forced the governments of France, Germany, the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) to consider the idea of further providing the Malian army with the necessary training, equipment and logistics support.

http://www.leadership.ng/nga/articles/45501/2013/01/20/nigerian_troops_illequipped_war_mali.html



480 Nigerian Soldiers Flee Into Cameroon After Fierce Battle With Boko Haram

Some 480 Nigerian soldiers have fled into Cameroon following fierce fighting with Boko Haram militants, Cameroon’s army has said.

Army spokesman, Lt Col Didier Badjek, said the soldiers had been disarmed and were now being accommodated in schools.

Clashes are said to be continuing in the border town of Gamboru Ngala.

Boko Haram on Sunday released a video in which it said it had established an Islamic state in the towns and villages it controls in north-eastern Nigeria.

BBC

Mubi battle: 300 Nigerian soldiers flee to Cameroon again
No fewer than 300 Nigerian soldiers fled to Cameroon when Boko Haram insurgents overran Mubi, the second largest city in Borno State from security forces on Wednesday, SUNDAY PUNCH has learnt.

Cameroonian military sources told our correspondent that Nigerian soldiers fled the north-eastern part of Nigeria, where the insurgency launched by the sect was raging, and crossed the Nigeria-Cameroon border.

The sources also said more Nigerian troops might have fled to other border towns in Cameroon after the Mubi attack. However, he added that their number had yet to be ascertained.

SUNDAY PUNCH also learnt that the deserting Nigerian soldiers would be moved away from the border areas to more secure locations, where they would be disarmed, fed and eventually repatriated to Nigeria.

The insurgents had taken over Mararaba Hildi, some few kilometres to Mubi town, on Tuesday, prompting a mass exodus of residents.

Hundreds of soldiers were said to have fled Mubi, which hosts two universities, as insurgents made advances to take over the town on Wednesday.

Speaking to SUNDAY PUNCH on Friday under the condition of anonymity, a senior Cameroonian military officer involved in the provision of welfare materials to the deserters, said, “They (Nigerian soldiers) are mostly around Boucla village in Bourha sub-division.

“So far, we can estimate the number of arrivals to be at about 300. These are the ones who arrived in uniform but we know that there are several others who shed their uniforms for civilian attires.”

The Mubi rout also forced thousands of Nigerian civilians to hit border villages in Cameroon in Benoue and Mayo Louti Divisions, and around Gachiga town.

It was, however, learnt that Cameroonian government was worried about the increasing number of refugees and where to keep them.

The relocation of Nigerian refugees was said to have become necessary as insurgents had previously attacked locations where fleeing Nigerian soldiers were housed.

Protests by indigenes of the border towns over attacks on the camps were said to have forced the Cameroonian government to adopt a policy of moving deserters far away from the border and out of the reach of Boko Haram.

It was further learnt that Cameroon had begun screening of deserters and refugees to prevent infiltration by insurgents.

“This time around, we are conducting a more thorough screening to avoid letting in Boko Haram infiltrators, who are known to inhabit the ranks of the Nigerian military,” an official of the Cameroonian government had told our correspondent in confidence.

Another Cameroonian military officer, who insisted on anonymity, expressed fears over possible infiltration of the country’s system through the refugee camps. He declined to give further details on how the screening was being conducted.

He said, “Taking them in is not something to make noise about. You and I know that we are in a military situation here. This is a war zone with Boko Haram spies crawling all over the place.

“The number we take and where we take them are obviously a military intelligence affair and nobody can give you that information, even if you were to approach the authorities in Yaounde.”

In a related development, SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that Boko Haram had been cultivating and recruiting local fighters among Cameroonian youths.

The sect is operating cells that have been in operation in Cameroon for over three years, recruiting through what a source described as “financial enticement and intimidation.”

Community leaders in the Far North region says thousands of Cameroonian youths had joined the ranks of Boko Haram since the beginning of the year.

“These are mostly young unemployed Cameroonians lured by handsome financial proposals by Boko Haram point men. Other Boko Haram sleeper cells are run by senior Islamists intimidated into doing the bidding of the sect,” one of the traditional leaders in the area, who refused to have his name in print, told our correspondent.

Recruitment of youths by the sect is said to be gaining ground in Cameroon and other neighbouring countries, raising fears that the activities of the insurgents might spread to other parts of West-African sub-region.

The sect had abducted seven members of the Fournier family from France in Cameroon in 2013. They were later released after a huge amount of money was reportedly paid as ransom.

Senior military sources confirmed that some high-ranking Boko Haram members arrested in Cameroon were exchanged for the release of the wife of the Cameroonian Vice-Prime Minister, Ahmadou Ali, and 16 members of his family who were abducted in Kolofata on July 27, as well as 10 Chinese road workers abducted in Waza in April, 2014.

In another related development, top Cameroonian military officials have insisted there is a close cooperation between the Nigerian and Cameroonian armies.

Information on the total number of Boko Haram insurgents detained in Cameroon has been classified as military intelligence.

However, it was learnt that the Cameroonian military had invited their Nigerian counterparts to interrogate Boko Haram suspects, Abakar Ali alias Mustapha Umar, Mahamat Ali and Issiaka Guere, who were arrested on September 23, 2014.

Other suspected members of the sect in detention, who include Cameroonians, will be tried by a special military tribunal in Yaounde, Cameroon, it was learnt.

“We cannot tell you their numbers now because investigations are still going on. When the investigations will be completed, there is the possibility that some of the people being held now on suspicion of being members of Boko Haram might be found to be innocent.

“Others would surely be finally identified as Cameroonians. The decision as to the fate of those found to be foreigners will be taken after the conclusion of the investigations. But I must tell you that besides Cameroonians and Nigerians, there are also members of Boko Haram from other neighbouring countries, which names we cannot cite now”, an official involved in the investigation disclosed.

However, the Cameroonian authorities are said to be reluctant on the repatriation of suspected leaders of the sect in their detention, as they might return to the battlefield should they escape

When our correspondent contacted the Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen Chris Olukolade, for his reaction to the issue, he said he would not comment on it.

“I won’t comment on that,” he said.

In August, the Cameroonian Army Spokesman, Lt.-Col. Didier Badjek, had said Nigerian troops had fled to Cameroon after intense fighting with Boko Haram.

But Olukolade, had refuted the desertion claim, saying the soldiers merely strayed into Cameroon.

While Cameroonian authorities said over 700 Nigerian soldiers fled Boko Haram advances into Cameroon, Nigerian authorities had insisted that only 480 went into Cameroonian territory on “technical manoeuver.”

In recent times, Nigerian military have been battling with mutiny and have set up court martials to try soldiers who fled from battle.

On August 27, the military leadership arrested several soldiers, who deserted the army. The arrested soldiers came from different battalions.

A month after, the Defence Headquarters announced that another set of 60 soldiers would be arraigned before a General Court Martial by military authorities in Abuja on October 2 for mutiny. The soldiers allegedly committed mutiny on August 4, 2014 by refusing to join troops in Maiduguri for “an operation.”

Their arraignment which was to take place at the Sani Abacha Barracks in Abuja came as some of the 12 soldiers convicted on September 15, 2014 by the GCM notified the Court of Appeal of their intention to challenge their sentences.

The GCM headed by Brig. Gen. C. Okonkwo had sentenced 12 out of 18 soldiers found guilty of mutiny among other offences to death. Five of them were discharged and acquitted and one sentenced to 28 days’ imprisonment with hard labour and reprimand.

http://www.punchng.com/news/mubi-battle-300-nigerian-soldiers-flee-to-cameroon-again/


When in 2013 during the Tuareg rebellion and partitioning of Northern Mali, Nigeria as it did in Liberia and Sierra Leone sent troops to add to the A.U. mandate and U.N intervention troops to take on the rebels. Revelation then came out the soldiers from Nigeria were illequipped and not disciplined enough for the task.

Nigerians were angry and cried blue murder referring to the report as a blackmail and a run-down syndrome orchestra by the west.

Recent happenings within our shores has shown that the Mali episode was not a farce but rather it was a reality check on our commmaders to take a thorough look at the kind of soldiers in the Military setup.

we have never had it this bad and to even imagine that our Army which was a pride of Africa has turn a shadow if itself in just few years after their heroics in Liberia.

This is a wake up call to the Federal Government to seriously see the need for a total overhaul of the system and chart a new course for the defence of the country and our territorial integrity. Having Soldiers run away from a domestic insurgency led by team of ragtag bunch of illeducated and illequipped terrorists spell doom for the Nation. Nigeria as a country is bordered by hostile and envious neighbours who are also all francophone countries and there is the need for us to show the ability to defend our Nation but when you have your soldiers labelled and confirmed as undisciplined, illtrained and underequipped then there is a loud shout to any external aggressor that PLS COME TAKE ME I'M AVAILABLE. The sole reason israel has not taken on iran is the fear of the unknown of the kind of counter attack that iran will launch, israel breaches syrian airspace at will since it knows its military could not take on a rebellion within its soil on its own without hezbollah and iran"s help. i pray cameroun dont develop ideas to try do the bakassi style takeover again.

LIKELY WAY OUT.
1) a complete audit of all defense spending in the last 5years and any corrupt or indicted officers (both serving and retired) made to face the full wrath of law.

2) the recruitment of soldiers through the depot should be more emphatized rather than the short service commision system of graduates.

3) political and ethnic consideration should be jettisoned in the recruitment of soldiers, the idea of retaining slots for senators, reps, governors and other politicians for their supporters and cronies should be thrown in the dustbin of history. only individuals wo are patriotic and voluntarily seek to join the Army should be encouraged. A political soldier is more concerned about monthly salary and other specks of joining the military and not to fight any war hence you see soldiers dropping their guns and weapons fleeing with civilians. The middle belts produced the elite bunch of rank and file officers in the 60s up to the 80s.

4) proper and regular training on modern warfare and yearly wargames as done in other advance militaries.

In all, one can see that the major problem bedevilling our Army is corruption, corruption and corruption.

thanks and you can add your own opinions

Lol i neva finish to dey read the topic....

Cutehector4u:
Lol i neva finish to dey read the topic....

Which topic o!!!!

...

Very incisive n detailed write-up, it is nothing shourt of an enigma; oP u nailed it; I'll suggest U send this letter, duly address it n send it to all the relevant military n administrative paralstatals; it 'll reall help.

What I love mostt is you offering solutions @ d tail of d expository; that was superb n a trait exuded by pundits; U tell a problem n bring solutions; till we as nigerians n d true heroes dat love ds con3 toe a lane of finding practical n pragmatic solutions to our problems, den woe shall beset us...

It's very obvious, Is Nigeria still the giant of Africa?... what makes a giant?... Not just his gargantuan size but his strength, and that's what we are lacking now, What really went wrong, Imagine some group of rag tags nonentities holding this so called "giant" to ransom. I lament for this country, There was a country.

As long as the weakling is the Commander, don't hold your breath. The Zoologist will only be interested the money sharing arrangement.

There no weak soldiers but weak commander (CinC)

There are no weak soldiers but weak commander (CinC)

egift:
As long as the weakling is the Commander, don't hold your breath. The Zoologist will only be interested the money sharing arrangement.

The strength of an army is not entirely the function of the c-in-c. It takes motivation, inspiration, patriotism and the belief that there is justice equality and reward for hard work and excellence .

The bane of our military today truly is the total neglect of the principles that guided recruitment in those days for the political and opportunist recruitment of young graduates who out of no job and poverty ventured into the military to make ends meet. Military ethics entails selfless service but when new hands sees it as a salary earning outfit then we are in trouble and the result is what we are experiencing right now in the North East.

Ibnsultan:
There are no weak soldiers but weak commander (CinC)

You may be right but not entirely right. The problem with our military goes beyond the CinC.

There is a popular military quotation " I am not scared of a pack of sheeps led by a lion but greatly scared by a pack of lions led by a sheep." that aptly describes our present military.