by G.B.E Onwuneme

The Nigerian Armed Forces, in particular, the Nigeria Army, have distinguished themselves right from Independence, in terms of professionalism, discipline and successful operations. The army’s performance in peace keeping operations is legendary – from Congo to Bosnia-Herzegovina, from Lebanon to Somalia, from Rwanda to Sierra Leone and over a dozen more places.

Liberia was, of course, the pinnacle where the Nigerian Armed Forces practically wrote the book on  Peace Enforcement by actually becoming the first successful Regional Peace Enforcement effort by any country – demonstrating the immense capacity of Nigeria, and its soldiers, in projecting and sustaining a force of over 12, 000 men and women (roughly equivalent to one division) in a foreign land.

Now the military campaign in the North-east against insurgents has gone on for about three years.  The insurgents have gained and retained the initiative with a steady and almost unchallenged string of tactical successes – Konduga, Bama, Dikwa, Ngala, Marte, Malam Fatori, Abadam, Gwoza, Madagali, Gulak, Michika, Bazza, Uba, Mubi, Maiha (now recovered) etc. Questions are being asked, what has happened to the Nigerian Armed Forces?

How come a force that has successfully brought peace to other lands seems unable to bring peace to its own land? What an irony. Well, one thing I can say for certain is: Do not write off the Nigerian Armed Forces. The Nigerian soldier, properly equipped and motivated, remains second to none – in comparison with any soldier in any army worldwide, man for man, in discipline and professionalism, in and out of combat.

If so, why are the insurgents advancing and seizing our territories, almost on a daily basis?That is the purpose of this piece:to examine some relevant considerations in the conduct of the campaign and offer some suggestions. I should hasten to notify the reader that in the conduct of military operations, there is nothing like “ONLY ONE WAY” to solve tactical problem in the field, be it in the advance, attack, defence or retrograde operations. In every campaign or battle, the Leader/Commander at all levels, solely decides how he will approach a given situation with a view to attaining his given objective or task.

All, therefore, depends on the commander at each level. In other words, the quality of the commander is key. And that takes us to the first point. The issue of leadership and command.

The profession of arms, the military has remained perhaps the most honourable profession throughout ancient and contemporary history. It is one profession, which its members seek to protect and defend their lands and its citizens from foreign attack and conquest, often at great risk to their own lives. It is the only profession, which discipline negates human preservation and instinct such that one individual, the commander, at the higher strategic or operational level, will command 100,000 men to face the enemy in a particular direction and manner, without questioning his authority or plan and they will proceed as ordered, even with the certainty that they will all not come back alive.

This means, in fact, that if the commander is of a low quality professionally, he will continue to send his men to their deaths and record losses.  The Armed Forces have two states of being: wartime and peacetime. War time, i.e. combat, is the acid test of a military leader – where he must put to work all the intellectual content of his training and experience and, as well, military knowledge. The first and most important role therefore is for commanders at all levels, I repeat, at all levels, to be carefully evaluated before being appointed to command, especially at the level of the military High Command (Service HQ level), operational levels command (division and equivalent), field command (brigade and equivalent), and junior command (battalion and below – even though less so).

Each service has the equivalent of a Military Secretary, who is, among his other functions, the chief custodian of every officer’s records, spanning the entire career. Every officer has a file.It is important that before appointing an officer to a combat command position of leadership, his records is thoroughly evaluated first in order to be certain that only officers of the right quality are appointed to such positions. At certain levels, an officer could even be tasked with discussing how he intends to face a certain task.

For example, a general being considered for a particular command could be asked to explain how he would clear insurgents from a particular sector. This by itself would demonstrate whether he has the capacity to face the challenge or not. Because the essentials to be achieved in a military campaign is to achieve the task given, within the time frame given WITH LEAST CASUALTIES.

Today, unlike in medieval warfare, a soldier does not go to war with an objective to die (though he is prepared for the supreme sacrifice) but he goes to war so that the enemy will die.

It is important, therefore, to call up the files of short-listed officers for war time appointments from the Military Secretary and carefully evaluate their Annual Performance Evaluation Reports, which will give a pen picture of the officer; their performance over time in their various levels of responsibilities at command, on the staff, how they have looked after the welfare of men placed under them, their performance on courses attended etc., therefore demonstrating their military knowledge and capabilities of doctrines, tactics etc.; and experience, if available, on previous operations. The proper evaluation of a commander for combat command is critical and could be the key to success or failure in battle. It is certainly not the only factor, but it is one of the most important to consider. And we have top quality officers aplenty in our Armed Forces. In fact, in medieval times, so much store was placed on the selection of commanders that often, once a commander is killed in battle, his men surrender.

Observe this classical Staff College scenario: two identical opposing forces facing each other on a flat smooth terrain; they both have the same number of men on each side, same type of equipment, weapons and munitions and same quantities each; same uniforms; same food etc. And they are both advancing towards each other. Which side will win? The side with the better commander will tend to be victorious over the other. Because he will know better how to conduct the operation: which principles to apply; which doctrines to adopt; and more importantly he would have trained and motivated his men the most. There is a whole field of study on military leadership; delving into the tangibles and intangibles of war.

Having been appointed as a suitable commander, he should not be abandoned to his devices but supported with the necessary tools of warfare. A commander, no matter his expertise or greatness, unfortunately cannot fight with his bare hands and an axe.

That takes us next to the question of military assets. Have you ever heard of who or what is a soldier’s wife?  Believe it or not,it is not what you think. Ingrained in the brain right from basic training from Military School, Depot and Academy is the fact that a soldier’s wife is his personal weapon: the rifle.There is no greater motivation for a fighting man than providing him with the requisite military hardware – personal weapons, Armoured Fighting Vehicles, Support Weapons and Munitions.

In 1980 or thereabouts, I had the privilege of being the commander of a tank squadron deployed in a combat environment in the Nigerian Army. The army had just acquired Russian T55 tanks about then. They were all parked in Lagos, until the situation developed in our same North-east Region when Gaddafi’s forces invaded Chad and moved menacingly towards our borders around the Lake Chad area. A brigade was raised to block the enemy ingress into Nigerian territory. My squadron, with full compliments of tanks, was given the task of supporting the brigade in carrying out its assignment.

I remember very well when our tanks arrived in our concentration area south of Baga, hundreds of our troops who had never seen tanks before, all abandoned their duty posts and ran over, very excited, feeling and rubbing their hands all over the armoured vehicles. They were even more excited, when I explained to them that the effective main gun range in the direct role fire was 2km (over 10 km firing in the in direct fire role); and that though a tank is a vehicle,the T55 tank could start without a battery (using air; after charging the air bottles).

Also when they saw our tanks advancing at night without headlights in tactical formation (actually using what is called red light – meaning infra-red), and parking in one single tank (main gun and co-axial guns) more fire power than the total fire power of a foot (not mechanised) infantry battalion – they went overboard with excitement. I did not see fighting men more eager to join battle than those men!In fact, the Brigade Commander himself, the well regarded and genteel Col Baba Jibrin, was not left out of the excitement.

During the advance by day, every so often, he will call me up on the radio net and ask: “Where are you” and I would reply in which direction he should look to see our dust, the major signature of moving tanks (we kept what is referred to in armoured tactics as ‘dust distance’).In operations, against any type of enemy, including insurgents, whichever side has the more greater combination of mobility and fire power tends to have the advantage in winning the engagement.

Now, the most decisive weapon in land warfare is the tank. The key characteristics of a tank are: armoured protection, fire power and mobility. In the ongoing counter-insurgency operations until now, neither side has deployed tanks. However, the insurgents have a platform, which carries two characteristics of a tank –  fire power and mobility. The platform in question is the Toyota Hilux vehicle that they use in numbers, with a mounted .50 inch/ 12.7mm anti-aircraft gun which they apply in the direct fire role.

Now, the best answer to a tank is another tank. All the armoured forces of the world know this. So the insurgents use the Hilux as tanks and we have no answer to that. It has been observed that the insurgents have led their advances and attacks with this category of vehicles as their vanguard, with devastating effects against our forces. The employment of these armed vehicles by the insurgents is another important factor that is responsible for their string of successes against our forces.

With these vehicles, the insurgents have seized and retained the initiative of swiftly moving to different towns and Local Government Areas to attack and capture our territories.Thus, just as our troops in 1980 were motivated by the appearance of our tanks in the theatre of operations, so are our forces, now in reverse, demoralised,when they see the insurgents advance in the armed Toyota Hilux pick-ups.

I must at this juncture positively welcome the initiative of President Goodluck Jonathan in seeking the National Assembly’s approval for funds to procure assets for our troops in the front line. Recognising that placing orders from overseas vendors, especially of heavy platforms, takes time as often the equipment may not be readily available on the shelf; brings to the fore the need to consider an alternative speedy way to arm our forces with effective platforms, even as the foreign procurement process is pursued.

Our own Defence Industry can mount heavy weapons on pick-ups, at a rate of 10 per day going full blast, especially when under the charge of a first class officer like Maj Gen Emeka Maduegbunam (rtd) to head a task force on this, working directly with the current Director-General of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Maj Gen E R Chioba,another capable officer.In one month, we would be able to muster 200 of these vehicles, far outnumbering the insurgents’ and enabling us to go on a rapid and successful counter offensive (the National Guard in future could take over this category of vehicles). The Defence Industry can do it. I know that for a fact. Only a few years ago, they produced from scratch 60mm and 81mm mortars which were successfully test fired.

While we are on the subject of assets, It is important to recognise that in the final analysis, it is men who fire the weapons. The high morale of troops is therefore a most important consideration at all times. This will be gained through adequate troop welfare. Troops must be paid their allowances as and when due and in full. They should be fed three meals a day,be provided with appropriate medical cover, and given the right kitting and transportation to deploy. Those unfortunately killed in action must be given proper burials and  appropriate arrangements made for their next-of-kins. Reports have come in regarding some of these aspects.

REVIEW OF THE OPERATIONAL PLAN: There is a need for the High Command to review the operation plan for the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in its entirety. We need to go back to the drawing board. Though I have not seen the concept of plan of operations, all reasonable people can infer that the string of losses on the battlefield to our forces, can only mean one thing: our plan is not working and needs to be reviewed.  A fresh plan should be made for the entire campaign, which will cover our overall Aim, Objective, Size of Forces, Nature  of Forces, Reserves, Logistics, Deployment into Sectors, Axes of Advance, Roles of Air Assets, Intelligence, Planning for Refugees, Replenishments of Stocks etc.

I know that we have capable leaders in the Services who can do a thorough job at it (again we are back to the question of right leadership). I must at this juncture commend our forces, including hunters, yan tauri and civilian JTF, for their efforts in Mubi and Maiha.

Let us now say enough is enough. We should begin the process of a COUNTER- OFFENSIVE that would recover all our lands back. We need a coordinated  counter offensive. Here are my thoughts. In considering a counter offensive, the High Command should be deliberate in their plans and preparations and must not rush into the offensive.  Instructive here is the battle of El Alamein, captured by Field Marshal Montgomery in World War II. It is the classic learning standard in modern military history on the need to prepare thoroughly, until you are good and ready before you move.

The counter-offensive, once launched, should be sustained (keeping in tune with one of the principles of war:OFFENSIVE ACTION). I will advise that our special forces should be expanded under a unified commander but with components placed directly under command of each division.  In assembling forces, an urgent surge is definitely required in the theatre.  Indeed, 25 per cent of the army strength should be moved to the North-east. I do not see any problems in raising another Division in the operational area from the present resources available in the country and position its headquarters in a place like Yobe State. An additional Division will mean that a corps (3 Divisions) would now be operating in the theatre. A capable Corps Commander would then need to be appointed. While positioning the troops in their various Concentration Areas, we would at the same time be building assets – equipment, armaments, munitions, supplies, reserve stocks, etc.

Often in planning, the General Staff sometimes tend to overlook certain operational precepts, taking them for granted. They should factor into their planning the standard principles of war, more relevant being Concentration of Forces, Mobility, Security, Logistics and Maintenance of Reserve. The High Command is definitely doing its best in the circumstance and the various Commanders in the field as well, not the least, the troops.

I have complete faith in our Armed Forces, no question about that. They will win at the end of the day. All Nigerians must keep politics aside at this time and unite in support of our Armed Forces and the Commander-in-Chief. Our officers and men from Generals/Admirals/Marshals to Privates/Seamen/Airmen need our constant encouragement and prayers as appropriate assets both land and air are being sourced by the Federal Government.

*Onwuneme is the pen name of a retired general of the Nigerian Army