Many issues have been generated since many Nigerian soldiers were massacred by Boko Haram insurgents at Metele, Guzamala Local Government Area, Borno on November 18, 2018.
Of course, this attack and loss was not the first experienced by gallant Nigerian soldiers and this will definitely not be the last.
Initially, the military and the Federal Government were taken up on the issue of how many and how the attack took place by the media. Politicians also used the attack to get throw punches at one another.
The question that remained on the minds of right-thinking Nigerians was whether any kind of lesson was learnt by both the Federal Government of Nigeria and the military authorities.
The burial of some of the gallant soldiers on Friday, December 14, 2018 also threw up more questions as some of the wives and families left behind by the heroes had one complaint or the other.
However, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, described the incident as tragic, noting that the soldiers sacrificed their lives in defence of the nation’s territorial integrity. He was represented at the solemn event by Major General Lamidi Adeosun. He vowed that the setback would not deter the troops from their commitment to defeat the insurgents.
He equally promised that the military authorities would take care of the families of the deceased in line with its welfare scheme, and prayed for the repose of their souls.
For now, the most important issue to be addressed is the sincerity of those in authority to ensure that unnecessary loss of soldiers is prevented. And if there is a loss, the ‘welfare scheme’ should be fully and diligently activated. If this is done, it will be more than enough to boost the morale of living and serving officers and men in all the security services in Nigeria.
It is of particular importance that President Muhammadu Buhari should be personally interested in this. It is the only way to go to ensure that a quick termination of the ‘roller-coaster’ activities of the insurgents is achieved.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
