According
to Vanguardnigeria,
it was alleged that the Chief of Army Staff, General Burutai made some 'revelations'
on why they are losing the war against BokoHaram.
Lieutenant
colonel Abu-Ali is dead. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Would we
have avoided his unfortunate demise? Yes!
General
Burutai have revealed decisions made by commander in chief of the armed forces
that led to his death.
Burutai
also revealed why Nigerian Military is losing troops to Boko Haram terrorists.
So, here is
the bombshell: President Buhari have serially expressed his disgust for
ex-president Goodluck Jonathan.
It is for
this same reason the ex-president’s wife is under close watch and
investigation.
Are the
Jonathans saints? Hell no! Are the Yar’Aduas, Obasanjos, Ibrahim Babangidas,
and Abdulasalmis saints? Hell no!
Well,
General Burutai said he’s had enough. He’s bared his mind on the recent
decimation of his troops.
According
to General Burutai, former President Goodluck Jonathan bought many long
distance ranged assault weapons.
On top of
this, he hired South African mercenaries with sophisticated arms to combat Boko
Haram.
This was
part of the successes recorded in the wee days of 2015, Burutai said.
While
President Buhari is a better military strategist, Burutai said all the
President needed to do was build on Jonathan’s successes and Boko Haram would
have been history.
“The truth
is that from September to November this year, we have lost so many troops that
can’t even be accounted for.
“Prominent
amongst those lost are Maj DS Erasmus and 8 soldiers – 25 Sep 2016 due to IED /
ambush along Bama – Banki road.
“Lt Col K
Yusuf and 83 soldiers missing in action on 16 Oct 2016 when Boko Haram attacked
troops location at Gashigar.
“Lt Col M
Abu-Ali and five soldiers were [neutralized] on 4 November 2016 on their way to
reinforce troops at Mallam Fatori.
“On 5
November 2016, two soldiers were [neutralized] at Kwada during Boko Haram
attack on troops location.
“One
soldier was wounded while another two were declared missing in action.
“In another
attack in Kangarwa on 6 November, one soldier was [neutralized] while four
other soldiers were wounded in action.
“Goodluck
Jonathan bought Vickers MBT tanks, T-72 tanks and Shilka guns. These weapons
unleashed disastrous blows on Boko Haram.
“But
they’re all worn out and the President has allowed our troops to continue using
degraded arms to fight Boko Haram.
“The major
cause of casualties on troops at the moment is poor equipment state.
“One
battalion of 700 men use jus 2 night vision googles. Just two! Aside from this,
the battalions are split almost in half.
“Some
battalions have just 400 men in action. How can they withstand the Boko Haram
hordes?
“Remember a
soldier without equipment is at best inefficient and machines without man are
almost useless.
“This
points to the need for adequate equipment in the theatre to minimize casualty
rate in the theatre.
“We mainly
rely on AK 47s. Boko Haram members use superior weapons a-times.
“Unfortunately,
our long range support weapons like the AA GUNS, mortar tubes, artillery
weapons like shilka guns etc, are scarce.
“The upper
hand we achieved against Boko Hara, started in February 2015 due to the arrival
of T-72 tanks in the theatre.
“Chadian
troops also assisted in mounting pressure on Boko Haram terrorists at the same
time.
“But the
President disengaged all of them without shoring up weapons for the troops.
Their moral is down.
“Poor
weapons, low morale, non-payment of their allowances, no promotion and all that
is making the Army loose the battle.
“The
president has to sit up and do the needful,” Burutai said.
Meanwhile, on
Wednesday, army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman described this as false and a
figment of imagination (Vanguard).
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