“I wish Shekau didn’t kill himself. I wish it was the security forces that captured him alive.
“He would have been more useful to Nigeria if he was really captured alive; however, his death will stop his activities… just as when Mohammed Yusuf was killed, I wished he was captured alive.”
Those were the words of Abdulrazaq Namdaz, Chairman House Committee on the Army, on the death of Abubakar Shekau, the leader of Boko Haram, whose death may turn a new direction in Nigeria’s decade-long battle against terrorism, which has seen the Northeast ravaged by an unprecedented humanitarian and economic crisis.
He said the records also indicated that 6,752 soldiers were discharged from the service in the last five years; while 25,655 soldiers had got enlisted within the same period.
“The lack of commitment on the part of some soldiers is the major reason for voluntary discharge from service. The army disclosed to the committee that some soldiers, having seen the reality of going to the battle front, especially against Boko Haram usually voluntarily discharge from the service.
“Those soldiers did not realize that engagement in the Army is more than a job; it entails personal commitment, regardless of welfare package.
“The documents show that all the voluntarily discharged soldiers were Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO), ranging from Master Warrant Officer (MWO) to private (PTE).