"Why We Can't Defeat Boko Haram"

"Why We Can't Defeat Boko Haram"-Army Commander And Family Threatened Over Letter to Jonathan

An army commander, who wrote a comprehensive letter to President Goodluck Jonathan exposing the rot and high level corruption militating against a successful campaign against Boko Haram insurgents, is now under threat. 

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An army commander, who wrote a comprehensive letter to President Goodluck Jonathan exposing the rot and high level corruption militating against a successful campaign against Boko Haram insurgents, is now under threat.

   

Nigerian senior military officers after a breakfast meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja last week State House Photo

Lieutenant Colonel A. Wende of the 103 Battalion, who is currently serving in “Operation Zamani Lafiya” in Konduga, wrote the letter detailing the challenges confronting the army in trying to crush Boko Haram, including within the army leadership.
SaharaReporters learnt that the army authorities have threatened to court-martial Lt. Col Wende if he does not openly denounce the letter.  On grounds of principle, the officer has so far refused to renounce the letter.
In the letter, the army commander made several damning allegations against his superiors including pinpointing how the General Officer commanding the 7th Battalion in Maiduguri was diverting over 600 bags of rice meant for the troops.
Lt. Col. Wende went as far as revealing that Nigerian army generals, including the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Minimah, do not go anywhere near the battlefronts.
He further disclosed that over 70% of army commanders are facing court martial proceedings instituted by the Nigerian army leadership.
In view of these facts being indisputable, and unable to frighten Lt. Col Wende with threats of a court martial, General Minimah on Monday tried to dismiss the letter as fake and as having been written by people he claimed are affiliated with Boko Haram.
Meanwhile, SaharaReporters has also learned that the army’s Defence headquarters has since last week quietly began to investigate the Acting GOC of 7th Division, perhaps in connection with the allege diversion of the 600 bags of rice.
In order to assist the public to understand the severity and importance of Lt. Col. Wende’s letter, we hereby publish the unredacted copy of his letter to President Jonathan in full.