A journalist who is
also the State Coordinator of Social Welfare Network Initiative, Jack Vince who
champions the cause for the freedom of most northern states held under siege by
Boko Haram terrorists, has brought to fore the shocking condition Nigerian
soldiers fighting in the region face.
This it is believed is
why the country is losing more soldiers to the war against terrorism.
According to the
Vince, for "Nigerian troops in northern Borno, ordinary pure water
is a luxury. They resort to drinking the potash (kanwa) filled water from wells
or 'rivers'."
Vince was forced to
speak out about the sorry condition of the soldiers following the death of Lt
Col. Muhammadu Abu Ali who was killed by Boko Haram terrorists during an ambush
on Friday in Borno state.
While writing on the
need for the government to adequately provide for the soldiers, he revealed
some shocking details and hardship the troops are facing in the north east.
"Now that it is
quite incontrovertible that terrorism has become an integral part of the
system, seven uninterrupted years of arms confrontation between the state and
the outlaws is enough time for security operatives to have had the requisite
experience. Experience in terms of the right weapons, strategy, technology,
intelligence and all it takes to significantly decimate the terrorists in truth
and not through propaganda and press releases.
"I have said this
before; for the umpteenth time, I'll say it again. All units across military
formations in Nigeria need to have at least 20 personnel trained abroad and
effectively kitted as special forces to bring Boko Haram to its knees. The last
set of special forces were trained by the last administration. The present
administration must do the same or even more, if we genuinely desire to combat
terrorism.
"Also, soldiers
need to have their morale boosted by adequate provision of welfare packages,
they need to be sensitized and made to feel like lions conquering the jungles
of terrorism, they deserve to be adequately and effectively provided with
ammunitions, new or functional assault weapons (AKs) with bayonets, personal
pistols, combat knives, several pairs of uniforms, boots and helmets, military
bulletproof jackets, night vision goggles, general purpose machine guns
(GPMGs), rocket propelled grenades (RPGs), anti aircraft (AA) weapons, armoured
personnel carriers (APCs), mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAP) military
vehicles, artillery, and combat aircraft.
"Government can
not continue to send our soldiers to battle fronts with infinitesimally little
or absolutely inadequate fighting equipment." Vince wrote.
He added: "American
soldiers once refused to advance in battle because they noticed that chocolate
was missing in their rations. To the Nigerian troops in northern Borno,
ordinary pure water is a luxury. They resort to drinking the potash (kanwa)
filled water from wells or 'rivers'."

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