Army plans more court-martial to fight indiscipline

The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, on Sunday said the Nigerian Army would continue to set up court-martial to check indiscipline among troops operating in North-East.
Minimah said this at the Inter-Denominational Church Service to mark the Nigerian Army Day Celebration 2015.
He said the army was taking all proactive measures to restore sanity and battle confidence to troops.
The army chief explained that court-martial was set up to try those soldiers and officers who ran away during the operation.

He said there were saboteurs who believed the war was not to be fought and also those who believed in the war sentiment and showed cowardice.
Minimah added that some of the soldiers joined the army to acquire wealth while others joined the army for employment, noting that they did not join to fight.
He stated, “I must set up court-martial and if you are in my place and you did nothing, you are not worth being a Chief of Army Staff. I did that, I have no regret.
“I am setting up more court-martial to try people who ran, showed cowardice, abandoned troops and equipment and ran away. Why are you in the army? Why are you running away? Is that the army we want in Nigeria?”
The army chief said any soldier, who could not fight for his country should not exist, adding that the oath of allegiance of the military commands that a soldier should fight.
According to him, the oath also says if possible, the “soldier should lay down his life for his fatherland and that is the oath we all took”.
Minimah appealed to Nigerians to be patient, assuring them that the fight against terrorism would soon be over.
He said the choice of Maiduguri for the celebration was for the army to identify with the government and people of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states and the entire North Eastern region that the army shared their pains.
He also said the celebration in Maiduguri would boost the morale of troops operating there.
On removal of military checkpoints, Minimah explained that not all military checkpoints and road blocks were being removed, contrary to the perception of people.
“Indeed, we will re-establish some that were erstwhile removed like in the South-East and some of the South-South areas, where kidnapping and ransom exist. So the road blocks and checkpoints will remain in certain areas.
“And in the areas where they cause hardship for citizens, we are taking steps to ensure that they are presented in such a way that citizens experience less hardship,’’ said the army chief.