From Olukayode Idowu, Defence Correspondent
SUNRISE NEWS, Maiduguri, July 12, 2020 Nigerian Army frontline troops have said they are highly motivated towards tackling insecurity in the country particularly the war against armed banditry and terrorism in the Northern part of the country saying any thought of loss of interest have never crossed their mind.
The troops while expressing misgivings over social media report of alleged low morale, said they are well motivated, happy and ready to fight for their fatherland which is the professional responsibility of the Nigerian Army.
Recall that a report in the social media had mischievously claimed that there was a crisis in the Nigerian Army as 356 Soldiers have signified intent to exit over “lost of interest” in the war against insecurity, a report that was later found to be mischievously concocted.
A senior officer in the Frontlines who expressed concerns about such distractive reportage said, “Our troops are happy and willing to fight. I have soldiers here with me…we fight day and night.”
Continuing he said, “Due to the high morale of the troops, l slept in the bush in an ambush site yesterday (Friday) waiting for the bandits to wipe them out in furtherance of meeting the targets of Operation Sahel Sanity.
Investigations showed that while personnel of the Army may have issues with normal routine voluntary disengagement, this must not necessarily be linked to issue of loss of interest and low morale as falsely and mischievously claimed in the report.
It was also gathered that while some personnel of the Army are entitled to voluntary retirement like any other establishment in the world it does not automatically mean it is as a result of issues associated with loss of interest or low morale as alleged in the social media report.
Observers conversant with happenings in the military while reacting to the report noted that it is the handiwork of mischief makers who are bent on discrediting the Nigerian Military by all means to achieve political interest. Why cant they report that just last week 5000 well trained soldiers graduated from Depot Nigerian Army to formally join the army?
One observer regretted that troops of the Nigerian Army are really raining hell on bandits and criminals across the country but no one is talking about it instead, they down play these successes due to their selfish interest.
Emphasising that even the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen TY Buratai has continued to extend his stay in the North West region with his men to ensure sanity is enforced, he said that those driving fake news and down playing the successes of the military over criminalities in the country are traitors of Nigeria and it is high time for the relevant authorities to rise to the challenge by arresting and prosecuting conveyers of fake, sponsored mischievous reports like the ones usually peddled by Senator Iroegbu.