unrest has been triggered in the Nigerian military has reports have emerged that some officers and soldiers are planning to invade the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to protest over poor working conditions, unpaid emoluments and other things that they have decided to say no to.
The protest is said to be a planned for just one day, the day which they plan to express their heartfelt displeasure against to the leadership of the Nigerian Military.
The group is said to comprise of soldiers and officers who are at the forefront of the fight against insurgence in the North-East and other parts of the country.
The officers have accused the leadership of the military for lying about giving them an increment in salary and other promised benefit and demanded a change and insisted that their demands be met
They also complained about the killing of their colleagues by terrorists and armed robbers with no adequate and appropriate compensation for the families of the killed officers.
According to an anonymous source, the statement rendered states that the Nigerian Army has been scarred by ethnic and religious biases which locks a segment of the force out of favour and others seem to be enjoying benefits without bounds.
Also the source said that the protest had been designed to expose the rot in the operations of the Nigerian Army under General Faruk Yahaya, the Chief of Army Staff.
According to reports the leadership of the Nigerian army are trying to ensure that they avert what they term ‘’The Embarrassment of the year should the soldiers embark on the protest’’
To this effect they have issued orders to all division and commands to withdraw all passes granted to officers and soldiers and direct those already permitted to travel to return to their bases immediately.
‘’All commands of the Nigerian Army have been directed to suspend the issuance of a travel pass to officers and soldiers. It was a terse statement from the Army Headquarters some days ago, with a warning to ensure strict compliance’’ a captain of the army headquarters said.
An affected soldier speaking on the issue said ‘’Our allowances are unpaid; we don’t have food or water. Maybe our ‘’Ogas’’ in Abuja want us to perform magic. We have not experienced such in the military history of the Nigerian Army. Even the police and other paramilitary services are doing better than us. All of this started under General Faruk Yahaya,’’ he said.
‘’This is a shame for the Nigerian Army. Other people have been Chief of Army Staff before him. Was this how he was treated? Our prayer is for president Buhari to sack him immediately; else there will be problems.
‘’The president must do something urgently. I can tell you that there is a rumble in the barracks. The soldiers are not happy. The suffering is too much, and we are now a laughing stock in the Armed Forces.’’
Also speaking on the issue an officer tendered his displeasure at the treatment meted out to them, he said ‘’
Their counterparts in the Nigerian Police have said that they will embark on a protest tagged ‘’We are tired of negligence’’ which is scheduled to hold at the Eagles Square in Abuja to express their displeasure and say no to poor working conditions, poor salaries, lack of genuine welfare and outdated weapons.
