According to Hope For Nigeria, Lieutenant
General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, the Chief of Army
Staff of Nigeria, have applauded former
President Goodluck Jonathan who bought many
long distance ranged assault weapons for the
Nigerian troops while in office, andblamed
President Muhammadu Buhari.s non
commitment to the needs of the troop as the
reason for the increasing number of death
experienced by the troops against Boko Haram
in recent months.
Lt Gen Buratai confirmed that he re-hired South
African mercenaries sacked by President
Muhammadu Buhari when he assumed office in
May 2015, as they are experienced and have
sophisticated arms to combat Boko Haram. This
was part of the successes recorded in the wee
days of 2015, Burutai said.
The Chief of staff added that, 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
4November 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 declaredmissing 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 just 2 night vision googles. Just
two!
Aside from this, the battalions are split almost
inhalf.
“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 Armyloose the battle.
“The president has to sit up and do the needful,”
Burutai said.
