BORNO: Soldiers kick against redeployment, protest poor equipment, unpaid allowances

SOME soldiers were said to have displayed something close to mutiny yesterday when they reportedly kicked against their posting to a location in the Theatre of Operation.

Reports have it that the battalion of the soldiers is not known though they belong to Operation Lafiya Dole.

The soldiers were said to have deployed to one of the cauldrons of insurgency in the Northeast but instead of obeying the order, they besieged the headquarters of the Theatre Command in Borno State, shooting repeatedly into the air last night, sources in Maimalari barracks told Channels TV.

They cited non-payment of allowances and poor equipment as reasons for their rebellion.

Some of the soldiers who spoke under anonymity recall how a whole unit that went for reinforcement when Marte was captured last month, perished under superior firepower of the enemy forces.

The Media Coordinator for Operation Lafiya Dole, Colonel Ado Isa, confirmed this to Channels Television via a text message today.

While blaming the protest on the soldiers’ minor admin/welfare, he said the issues were promptly addressed.

There have concerns about the safety of Nigerian soldiers who are at the battle fronts in Northeastern part of the country in their bid to rid zone of insurgency.

There have been complaints from some of the soldiers that they’re poorly equipped and their weapons, oftentimes, are no match for those of the insurgents.