Military and escalating ‘Dog Eat Dog’ syndrome

• Three soldiers undergo military discipline amid call for improved training by retired general

The recent increase in the number of soldiers opening fire on one another has sparked concerns about dwindling state of discipline in the military. ODITA SUNDAY writes that this trend is not only alarming but also has significant implications on how the armed forces is viewed by citizens, as well as effectiveness and cohesion of the military as an institution.

A troubling spike in fratricidal attacks has hit the military, with at least three soldiers turning their weapons on fellow personnel in the past three months, according to findings.

This alarming trend signals potential systemic issues, including strained unit dynamics, insufficient mental health resources or escalating tensions.
This disturbing pattern also raises concerns about potential underlying issues such as low morale, inadequate mental health support or internal conflicts.

The Guardian gathered that the increasing instances of soldiers attacking colleagues indicate a profound systemic issue within the military, necessitating thorough and lasting solutions.

People’s outcry underscores the need for immediate action to prevent further escalation and ensure the military’s effectiveness and cohesion. They said to resolve this crisis, the military must urgently address underlying factors, including personnel welfare and troop morale, through comprehensive reforms.

By prioritising personnel welfare, morale, and systemic reforms, the military can address root causes of intra-military violence, restore discipline and professionalism and strengthen national security.

Recently, the Defence Headquarters announced that a trigger-happy naval rating, who killed a personnel in Operation Fansan Yamman, would face a military court-martial.
A statement by Director Defence Media Operation, Major General Edward Buba, said the administrative procedure for notifying the family of the deceased had already been activated, adding that it is for this reason that the name of the deceased was not released to the public.

According to the statement, “on October 24, at around 3.12pm, a Naval personnel, LS Akila A, deployed at FOB Dansadua for Operation Fansan Yamma, in questionable circumstances opened fire sporadically killing a fellow military colleague. Thereafter, he was arrested, disarmed, detained and investigation has since commenced into the case. After investigation, the case will be escalated to a standing court martial setup to address such misdemeanor among troops.”

However, this is not an isolated incident. Ex-Seaman Abbas Haruna, a Nigerian Navy rating, had a similar outburst during Exercise Ayam Akpatuma, a joint DHQ operation.

Addressing the media on the case involving the ex-rating on October 2, 2024, the Acting Director Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, had said that his act of gross indiscipline was capable of taking the lives of his colleagues.

According to him, “the case involving Ex-Seaman Abbas Haruna M5759 started when he was found misbehaving during a parade. Specifically, the ex-rating was part of the parade during a coordinating conference of the Commanding Officer (CO), when he was addressing troops of Exercise Ayam Akpatuma preparing for operation. While the CO was addressing the troops, the ex-rating continually interrupted the address, which warranted the CO to direct him to report to the guard room. However, the rating refused to obey the order.

“Thus, the CO directed his arrest but the ex-rating resisted and expended 16 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition belonging to the NN with the aim of preventing other soldiers from taking him into custody. Consequently, investigation was conducted and the ex-rating was recommended to be tried by court martial. The ex-rating was eventually tried by a General Court Martial (GCM) from December 20, 2022 to February 7, 2023. Notably, the trial of Ex-Seaman Abbas Haruna M5759 by GCM was based on the authority that as serving personnel, he was subject to both military and civil laws.”

Similarly, another naval rating Abdurasheed Mohammed, a seaman, was on August 28, paraded by FCT Police Command for killing the son of the 18th Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ishaya Ibrahim (rtd), at Maitama District in Abuja.

Also addressing a press conference during the parading of no fewer than 97 suspected terrorists and criminal elements arrested within Abuja, the then Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, now AIG, averred that the operatives of FCT Command on routine stop and search operation on Sunday, August 18, 2024, apprehended Abdulrasheed Muhammed, a naval seaman in a black coloured Prado SUV.

When contacted, the hierarchy of the Nigerian Navy said that it was aware of the alleged crime by one of its personnel against the family of its former Chief of Naval Staff.

The Naval spokesperson, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, in a chat over the subject matter, said: “The suspect is a bonafide rating of the Nigerian Navy and has been accused of committing some offences. The Navy is aware.”

Adams-Aliu assured that the proper procedure for both military and civil judicial processes would certainly be followed to first establish a prima-facie case and then ascertain guilt as determined by competent court.

The recurring incidents of extrajudicial killings and armed robbery involving Nigerian Navy personnel have raised concerns about the service’s recruitment process.

Analysts suggest that loopholes in the screening procedures may be allowing unsuitable candidates to join, leading to persistent deviant behavior among naval ratings.
Major General Abel Umahi (retired), former General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 81 Division in Lagos, emphasised that mistakenly firing on friendly forces with personal weapons is unacceptable and unprofessional. He attributed such incidents to inadequate military training, particularly, in weapon handling.

The retired General identified inadequate training and poor administration as the root causes of most unprofessional behaviors exhibited by military personnel.

“Training is no longer as effective and regular in the three arms of the Nigerian Armed Forces as they used to be. This is because the military is now over involved in internal security operations owing to the overwhelming insecurity situation in Nigeria,” he said, adding: “Perhaps, 80 per cent of the entire military personnel are actively engaged simultaneously in operations across the length and breadth of the country. The remaining ones are involved in logistics and administrative support of those in the field.

“Therefore, no troops are available for regular and sustained military training. The effect is gap in training and the consequence is professional misconduct.

“Some soldiers are facing depressions owing to operations-induced stress.”

The retired General highlighted the risks of troop fatigue, warning that relentless redeployments without downtime or family connections could result in severe behavioral problems, such as improper weapon handling.

His words: “Leadership of the Nigerian Armed Forces should kindly consider this dimension as they continually seek ways of ensuring rewarding man management of troops.

“To address these training and administration problems, the Federal Government should approve massive recruitment of new officers and soldiers into the armed forces.

“Nigeria is at war. Therefore, the most important thing government should do is to prioritise security as the most urgent critical need of Nigeria. With an empowered security agencies, robust diplomatic and information operations, Nigeria will overcome insecurity within the shortest possible time,” he said.

National Coordinator of Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA), Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, attributed the resort to extrajudicial killings by armed security agents to a misguided belief. He stated that their frequent deployment and authorisation to use force against civilians fosters a misconception that wielding weapons in this manner is trivial.

Another fundamental cause, according to Onwubiko is poor appreciation of professionalism and lack of discipline amongst a large number of armed security operatives.

“The solution is to ensure that any member of the armed security forces who commit such murderous acts as extrajudicial killings, are made to face the full weight of the law not just in court Marshall but also in the regular courts if the Court martial modality is taking too long to happen.”

“Nigeria must never be allowed to degenerate into a lawless dungeon whereby might becomes right and thereby armed security operatives are let off the hook even when they are implicated in murderous attacks of citizens or even their own colleagues.

“It is not purely a problem with the Navy but this sort of indiscipline and lack of professionalism are a general malaise that afflicts the entire fabrics of the armed forces of Nigeria and police and even paramilitary agents are not free from this criminality.” Onwubiko said.

Security expert Chukwuka Oji noted that the persistent trend of unauthorised violence is increasingly embarrassing. He emphasised that the military must tackle the underlying issue: a flawed recruitment process.

“The Navy recruits people that should not be employed for the job. They recruit those who are not qualified. Those who are ready to work are not recruited, but those political thugs who their masters use the recruitment to settle are hired,” Orji alleged.

According to him, “because of quota system, those who are not qualified are recruited. I think that it is faulty for a personnel below certain rank to bear arms.

“After recruitment, the successful candidate should be taught how to use firearms, when to use it and when not to use. The rule of engagement should be a daily affair. The Navy should try and organise seminars, training and retraining for their personnel.”

He also said: “The authorities should conduct drug test on a regular basis for them. The respect for human rights and importance of sanctity of life should be emphasised everyday.

“Finally, the Navy should reprimand her personnel and deal decisively with any personnel who misbehaves to stand as deterrent to others,” Orji said.