When I wrote Boko Haram and the Military three days ago, in my heart the accusation of r*ape against the Nigerian military was the weightiest of all the allegations. The obscenity of the act is what every normal citizen should abhor. I then based my evidence on eyewitness accounts of people fleeing the town. Listeners of early morning VOA or BBC Hausa service programmes can recall the voice of a woman who was fleeing Maiduguri for Misau in Bauchi State. This is what I can recollect from her conversation with the reporter:

“We have to flee. Soldiers are bursting into our houses, killing our husbands and committing obscenity with the women. What can we do other than to flee to where we will feel safe?”

I did not doubt her. Though she did not mention r*ape in Hausa for reasons of shyness, the words she used left no one in doubt of what she meant. What obscene thing would make a woman shy from its mere mention though it caused her to abandon her residence?

When  I published the article in my blog (http://fridaydiscourse..com), a reader, apparently a military officer, wrote this anonymous contribution and doubted the veracity of the violation allegation. He politely said: 

“I doubt very much the allegation of violation. Please check your facts very well.”

Another contributor, from the military it looks, also said:

“I would suggest that you refrain from comments that would depict our soldiers as barbarians thereby causing them to lose the public support they require to carry out their duties effectively…They certainly do not deserve the castigation you are pouring out to them. In the case of reported atrocities by these soldiers, I will suggest you take your time to investigate before you go public and not base your write up on hearsay."

Let me pause to assert that our military counterparts should please appreciate that we are living in a democracy in which freedom of expression is cornerstone. When actions of soldiers contravene fundamental human rights enshrined in our constitution, we are bound to speak out. That is the life of a bloody civilian. He doesn't carry arms. All he can do is to talk, and the talking is what we are doing here. As civilians, we expect the soldiers to protect us, not attack us in the middle of our sleep, killing our men, burning our houses and cars, beating our women and Desecrating our daughters. They have not met this expectation in Maiduguri, and hence our complain.

Now before I could investigate, I was vindicated by the Borno Elders Forum. In an appeal to the President reported in the Daily Trust, the elders categorically mentioned violation among several atrocities committed by the soldiers:

“The soldiers have been burning down cars, killing innocent passersby, looting private property, harassing innocent passerby and even Desecrating young girls.”

The veracity of the accusation can be driven from the weight of the personalities that made it:

“Shettima Ali Monguno, the Imam Idaini of Borno Imam Baba Gana Asil, Alhaji Garba Abba Satomi, Alhaji Bukar Bolori, Alhaji Usman Gaji Galtimari, Alhaji Kyari Sandabe, Brigadier General Abba Kyari (rtd), Air Vice Marshal Al-Amin Daggash (rtd), Shettima Ali Kidaji…Ambassador Ahmed Yusufari, AIG Zanna Laminu Mamadi, AIG Muktar Alkali, Alhaji Tijjani Bolori, Alhaji Bulama Mali Gubio, Alhaji Umar Abba Shuwa, Alhaji Ibrahim El-Zubairu, Malam Ibrahim Mustapha and Alhaji Gambo Vubio.”

These people are qualified to be senior citizens in any country. Their words cannot be dismissed as simple hearsay.

The military authorities were quick in denying the atrocities leveled by the Borno Elders Forum. However, reports continue to assert the issue of violation. This article is even prompted by a mail I received from a noble sister with relations in Maiduguri, sounding helpless over the atrocities that have not ceased, causing her sisters to go into hiding:

“My dear brothers and sisters, please we need your prayers. Young girls in Maiduguri are in great danger. My sisters and some other young girls have fled from their homes. Our parents are all hiding their female children because soldiers are Desecrating them. Oh Allah save our generation.”

For a commentator I think this is enough to take the allegation of violation seriously. I do not need to catch the soldier in the act before I comment on it. I am not a policeman. Just as no President in the world, other than the coconut headed ones we have in Africa, would go to sleep in the face of this quantum of allegations and complaints.

However, in Nigeria the complaints were answered with an air of impunity as usual. Major General Azazi (rtd) said, in reply to the Elders, he said that government will not withdraw soldiers from the streets of Maiduguri. He even concluded his statement without the usual false palliative of investigating the allegations to fray the nerves of the population. In other words, you do not deserve it, bloody civilians.

Today so many human rights groups have jointly signed an appeal to the government for investigating the atrocities and putting an end to them.

I tried to figure out the justification behind this truly barbaric behaviour in the 21st century. Despite the fact that Nigerian soldiers have consistently shown this level of human rights abuse before, as I was quick to point out in my last article on the matter, I was shocked to discover a justification from an ethnic angle consistently opened to me by one of my readers of Igbo extraction, Ike Agbor. On the point I made that “killing of civilians under any circumstance is a massacre…punishable under the Geneva convention, he said this, apparently in justifying the actions of Maj. General Jack Nwachukwu’s soldiers in Maiduguri:

“Where do we start? A revisit of the massacre by Nigerian soldiers under Murtala at Asaba, the massacre of a congregation at a church once Nigerian soldiers entered into Onitsha, or the every other massacres orchestrated by Nigerian soldiers inside Biafra?,  I will be glad if you hold my hands and take me to the sections of the Geneva Conventions that were contravened by the Northern civilians, and the soldiers, who took part in the SinParty of killings in the North, the starvation of civilians in Biafra and the near equal frenzy of massacre of Biafrans and the violation of women at the end of hostilities in January 1970.”

After reading this mail, I simply sent him a question whether the atrocities committed in the past should determine what our soldiers should do presently. No reply.

Are some elements in the Nigerian military 'justifiably' under a revenge mission in Maiduguri, if Ike is right?

The government, if I must reiterate, should commence investigations into these allegations and request Maj General Jack Nwachukwu and his soldiers to become more vigilant of the possible bad eggs in their ranks. Saying that miscreants or Boko Haram members carry out the Desecrates simply does not click. Everybody is mentioning soldiers, soldiers and soldiers alone. It is possible there could be fake soldiers on the streets, as was witnessed whenever there is a religious crisis in Bauchi, Plateau and Kaduna. Only investigations by the military will bring out the true identity of the soldiers. Lending a deaf ear to the appeals, therefore, will not help the situation.

Whoever is behind the Desecrates and whatever are his reasons, I will not hesitate to warn the Nigerian government of the consequences of continued insensitivity to the complaints. A point may be reached when the population of Maiduguri would entirely come out on the streets and revolt against the soldiers. This is the easiest thing that the progenies of Mai Idris Alooma and El-Kanemi can do when pushed to the wall. Here, it will be apt to advise the military not to take the level-headedness of the population for granted. 

“If you see the teeth of the lion exposed”, said my favourite Abbasid poet, Al-Mutanabbi, “don’t think that the lion is laughing.”

By Dr. Aliyu U. Tilde

I reserve comment!

this should not be news, we know thats what happens when you let those boys loose. if they do it during peace keeping what stops them from doing it during war, our boys lack discipline but i dont blame them , they are a reflection of our society. rape is no longer a crime in our rotten society

Let them whine very well . . . . .na so ND women also complain during the days of militancy.

I really sympathise with Borno people on this but they should thank God food has not been used as a weapon of warfare and nobody will tell them they are marginalised and loosers of war with their property treated as abandoned property.

A worst fate was suffered by igbos with some living retired soldiers boasting of it. Of particular reference was somebody boasting how he will shoot on any moving thing even denying igbos caritas and redcross.

Generally since it has become an established nigerian culture, nigerians should just accept their fate and pray it won't be their turn next. Since it has happened to igbos, ijaws , tiv, kanuri, birom. Next in line will be yorubas, hausa, fulani, ishekiri, edo,gwari,urhobo etc
I say goodluck to the next tribe.

I wonder who's gonna take this write up serious; no facts, all based on hearsays. Still wondering why nobody heard from you when your favorite Boko Haram were busy killing and maiming 'infidels'.  Please park well and stop complaining after all, the JTF just started operation some weeks back. Don't forget the factual genocide, maiming, raping and starvation against the Igbos was carried out for 4 years (1966-70) and you people termed it 'justified'. Now, don't you think what is good for the goose is also good for the gander

When the army comes into a situation it cannot be a tea party.

Violation is a trauma which is so difficult to erase in the minds of men. It is the ultimate shame that can be meted out to the ego of men but Biafrans had to receive such shame together with deliberate starvation.

It's however very wrong and mischievous for the author; Aliyu Tilde - who's a known pro-north/anti-south-kind-of-writer with many such articles in Nigeriavillagesquare to deliberately mention the name of Maj. Gen Nwachukwu and trying to construe to readers of such article that the Chief soldier is on a possible revenge mission. If Gowon can personally say over the years that he "knew" nothing of the atrocities of his soldiers during Biafra then ofcourse, let us all believe the innocence of Maj. Gen Nwachukwu afterall, he "might not know" whats going-on on the ground as far as human rights abuses are concerned. Nonsense. The taste of medicine is always bitter to all patients.

We must understand that Nigeria is a failed state with a barbaric army who're experts in violation and torture crimes at the expense of warfare expertise and honor.

these idiots accusing soldiers for rape and all that don't they have a ph with camera for evidence ?

ak47mann:

these idiots accusing soldiers for violation and all that don't they have a ph with camera for evidence ?

Have you ever been ra-ped?
Taking a picture would be the last thing on your mind.

Then, where are the ra-ped victims? Are they spirits too?

If the report of rape is based n the interviewd woman only then it suld nt be belived! A typical hausa woman will consider as violation a man holding her by the hand, a man simply does nt touch a woman nt his wife! And obviously, d soldiers will nt give a shi-it in handling them.

ak47mann:

these idiots accusing soldiers for violation and all that don't they have a ph with camera for evidence ?

even in time of peace soldiers violation women at will , we dont need evidence to believe that cause that is what they specialize on , just pray they are not sent to your home town anytime soon cause they will do the same thing.

The Boko Haram chaps are no ghost, they are human, locals living with the elders and women claiming violation, they should start giving useful information to JTF so the boys can accomplish their mission and move on, if not they should leave town as the soldiers boys aint leaving town untill boko haram problem is history.
@poster, be prepared for more write up, there are things worse than violation, from your user name you should know a tribe call Ogoni in the nigerdelta, go have a chat with anyone from Ogoni Kingdom, then you will know what is in stock for Borno state.

I have bad news for you people.The federal goverment has started withdrawing the soldiers today.Go hug transformer if you are not happy about this

I have bad news for you people.The federal goverment has started withdrawing the soldiers today.Go hug transformer if you are not happy about this

freegaza:

I have bad news for you people.The federal goverment has started withdrawing the soldiers today.Go hug transformer if you are not happy about this

they should not return

freegaza:

I have bad news for you people.The federal goverment has started withdrawing the soldiers today.Go hug transformer if you are not happy about this

Another evidence that Jonathan is not fit to be president. He is not only weak and malleable as we already know, he is also quite prone to blackmail as we can see

Boko Haram can remain in Maiduguri and be exporting death to Abuja. However we southerners are watching. And our kin in the military too are watching. Mend is watching

@namfav.Mobile police za'a kawo ba zasu koma ba

@peny they have agreed(boko haram) to dialogue

freegaza:

@peny they have agreed(boko haram) to dialogue

E no matter nah, dis na the turn of militants wey dey South to finish off the job!

freegaza:

@namfav.Mobile police za'a kawo ba zasu koma ba

do you have a source , ba na iya samu

Una tink say na only UsmanDamPolio pickin sabi buy fertilizer or no happy wid Nigeria, AbegE make una dey watch on

Will Igbos on this thread shut up about rape and massacre and starvation on 60s!

Shyyt, herdsmen just walked through your heartland few days ago, its during peacetime and your response was weak and limp.

You invited what happened to you in the 60s, all that massacre, starvation, disease and everything else, yes, they were respnse to your brutal intentions to do those exacct atrocities on others. They beat you to your own game, so shut up!!!

Negro_Ntns:

Shyyt, herdsmen just walked through your heartland few days ago, its during peacetime and your response was weak and limp.

You do know there is fighting in that area of Imo state, in which the Igbo men of that community launched an offensive?

And I forgot. . . Go to hell you cowardly fool. 

Can i come and join you screwing them Soldiers? You can give me Aisha from the Yaradua Family

Negro_Ntns:

Will Igbos on this thread shut up about violation and massacre and starvation on 60s!

Shyyt, herdsmen just walked through your heartland few days ago, its during peacetime and your response was weak and limp.

You invited what happened to you in the 60s, all that massacre, starvation, disease and everything else, yes, they were respnse to your brutal intentions to do those exacct atrocities on others. They beat you to your own game, so shut up!!!

go and hug transformer you fool, the brutal intentions or whatever your ranting about where still carried out by the military whether they are igbo or not.wat about ogoni , bayelsa,cross rivers, benue etc did they also deserve it. nkuku nwanne amalonye, people like you belong in the zoo.

[size=18pt]The Soldiers should only withdraw to the borders of Nigerian- Chad/Niger and Cameroon while some should be 30 to 40 miles out of Maiduguri forming a huge centric barrier around Maiduguri otherwise a withdrawal without properly thinking of the implication would be foolhardy and silly. Perhaps Boko Haram needs respite to re-arm after exhausting their arsenal of death[/size].

The faith of the ignorants is horrific degeneration.Gradual but sure retrogression to extinction awaits those that refuse to discover.

Nigeria is in the rank of countries like afghanistan,somalia,yemen,even pakistan,countries on the downward spin to oblivion as a result of not knowing what is basically important.

Light shine for those that seek light and the light walks its way true the darkness.

[size=8pt][/size]

Negro_Ntns:

Will Igbos on this thread shut up about violation and massacre and starvation on 60s!

Shyyt, herdsmen just walked through your heartland few days ago, its during peacetime and your response was weak and limp.

You invited what happened to you in the 60s, all that massacre, starvation, disease and everything else, yes, they were respnse to your brutal intentions to do those exacct atrocities on others. They beat you to your own game, so shut up!!!

^^^No, you SHUT THE FUC*K UP!! Bigoted BASTARD. Igbos will continue to mention the war crimes commited against us for as long we like. And if you don't like it?: TOUGH!!

If the soldiers that commited the said 'crimes' in the lead-up to the civil war were the ones punished, then that's one thing. But when innocent civilians that had nothing to do with the issues at hand are targeted systematically for RAP*E; STARVATION and GENOCIDE, and you find nothing wrong with that just b'cos it's the Igbos you love to hate, then it says a lot about the direction your moral compass is pointing than anything else.

So you're privy to some well kept secret about the intentions of Ndigbo as a people to visit violation; massacre; starvation; disease (and everything else your active/evil imagination can conjure) on the rest of the what may have been Biafra had they won the war?

Honestly, the pure hatred and bigotry you exhibit most times on here is beginning to make HITLER look like a saint.

What's happening to the rest of Nigeria that sanctioned and justified the atrocities against Ndigbo in the lead-up to, and during the civil war is nothing short of POETIC JUSTICE. And it comes to all who have sinned against man and do not admit or apologize for their actions.