Insurgency:Army Continue Arrest Of Saboteur Military Officers,9 Generals On The Watch List

Even with repeated denials by DHQ and Chief of Defence Staff Alex Badeh, the Nigerian Army has embarked on sweeping arrests and comprehensive investigations that have helped to expose some of the officers and soldiers responsible for colluding with the terrorists.
One of the officers who has been arrested and is being investigated is the former GOC of 7Division, Maiduguri, Major-General Abubakar Mohammed.

According to a military source, so many senior officers have enriched themselves by giving vital operational information to the insurgents in exchange for money, thereby sabotaging the counter-terrorism efforts including the ambush near Chibok that led to the death of about 18 soldiers and Lt-Col. Salisu, and the subsequent mutiny against the former GOC.

The source alleged that the former GOC was accused of deliberately misleading the soldiers, resulting in operational blunders, which cost several lives including some officers.

The decision to keep away the former GOC pending the final investigation by the panel set up by the DHQ was corroborated by a source in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

“If along the line the action of the GOC provoked the mutiny, the GOC has to be court-martialed. But the only thing we are sure of is that he is not likely to go back there,” the source said.

Providing further insight, a source within the 7Division said: “The Lt-Colonel died during the last ambush after the operation at Chibok as a result of the order given by the GOC who insisted we must sleep over instead of returning back to Maiduguri that night. It was in the process of sleeping over that the Boko Haram informants tipped off members of the sect and they ambushed us.

“This happened despite the fact that we told him that we wanted to come back that very night but he refused and told us that we should wait. Then there was an ambush where we lodged and suffered heavy casualties. We don't know what was his plan and that is why he has been arrested for questioning but we know that at the end of the day nothing will happen to him.

“They handcuffed the GOC for allowing the blunder that caused the heavy casualties. Even though we know they will set him free, which has always been the problem with our officers who feel they can do anything and get away with it.”

Although Mohammed was immediately replaced by Brigadier-General I.Y Ibrahim, while an investigative panel was set up by DHQ, information showed that the probe has been expanded beyond the immediate cause of the mutiny, which has led to the arrest and/or questioning of 25 other senior army officers.
The army officers, discovered, included Captains and Lt-Colonels, while nine Generals are being placed under watch but no decision has been taken on them.

However, another source within the military disclosed that some of the senior officers under investigation are on the run.
“What is happening is that all these our officers normally communicate with BH, telling them the type and amount of ammunition we have. When they have also given this vital information to the enemy, they will now ambush us and that was what happened when we had the problem with the GOC.

“Its our officers who are killing us... And now the officer that was communicating with Boko Haram has run away with his family under watch,” the source said.

Also speaking on the issue, a top military source said the investigation was advanced and had almost been concluded at the regimental level and a more comprehensive one would be undertaken by the Military Police.

“It is the Military Police which will determine the level of charges, involvement and punishment for those involved. These are being done simultaneously. Definitely the full wrath of the law is going to be applied, which is death by firing because mutiny and sabotage during a war is a serious offence,” the source said.