by Akan Ido

Mutiny broke out on Wednesday within the rank and file of soldiers from the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in their barracks against Major-General Abubakar Mohammed, the General Officer Commanding (GOC).

Nigerian Tribune learnt that the mutiny broke out, following the killing of their colleagues ambushed by Boko Haram insurgents on Chibok road, while he (the GOC) was said to have visited Chibok and was returning to his base in Maiduguri.

A source said the soldiers were returning from an operation in Kala Balge council area of the state, from where they were instructed to return to Maiduguri, but, on their way, they were ambushed and a dozen of them were killed.

“When the GOC wanted to address another troop on the ongoing operation against the insurgency, the soldiers, on sighting the corpses of their colleagues at Maimalari Barracks, became angry.

“They started shooting sporadically, while others opened fire on the vehicle of the commander, who narrowly escaped,” the source said.

According to the source, “what angered the soldiers most is their harsh working conditions, the pattern of payment of their allowances and the kind of weapons they use. As a result, many of them were being killed by the insurgents.”

A credible military source said the soldiers became angry out of frustration and tiredness, noting that most of the time, the locals misled them to places where they got ambushed and killed.

Below are the reasons given by aggrieved soldiers for their action:

• Cheap exposure to ambush by Boko Haram insurgents due to uncoordinated information;

• Needless killing of soldiers as a result of misleading information;

• Insufficient food (one meal per day);

• Obsolete equipment, limited arms and ammunition to fight insurgents

• Alleged short-payment of accruing allowances; and

• Non-rotation of troops leading to diminishing returns.

Defending the military, the source said the special allowances due to the soldiers were now paid regularly and on time, unlike what obtained in the past.

Attempts to get the spokesman of the 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Colonel Muhammad Dole, to speak on the incident failed.

Army spokesman, Major-General Chris Olukolade, in a statement on Wednesday, described the incident as an internal matter, adding there was no need for public concern.

He said the army would institute a military board of inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the conduct of the soldiers, adding that normal operation activities now ongoing at the barracks.

There were indications last night that the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, has sent a team to Maiduguri for preliminary stock-taking of the mutiny.

A source said: “The CDS has sent a team of senior officials to the 7 Division for preliminary findings. This is without prejudice to the board of inquiry which will be set up.”