Introduction
Many have criticized forces for their inability to match-up to these Boko Haram extremists. many have wondered why we cannot keep a clean sheet of terror related deaths for just a month. Researchers have labored day and night to ascertain what exactly the reasons are and how they could be resolved so we can finally have our peace of mind. it is important to stress in this preamble that successive governments allover the sub-region have put in a lot of efforts in making sure we always fight back.
In this rather lengthy article we suggest 8 Reasons why forces in west africa are failing
Early this month, 69 people were killed in Banibangou, a village close to the Niger-Mali border in the republic of Niger. for me, it was a very sad moment to hear dozens of people getting killed by terrorists.
unfortunately, the people in the same village hailed H.E Bazoum when he visited them after the tragic incident. they rather seized the opportunity to ask the president for roads and hospital. How stupid right? YES
One would have expected that, this was a fine opportunity for the president to promise them a lasting solution to the Boko Haram menace. You don't need to be a prophet to know that the president is breeding a tiger and one day, that tiger would turn to hunt him.
we are not angry enough!!!
If we cannot stand up to a battle that took the life of H.E Idriss Débi, immediate past president of Chad. If we cannot stand up to a battle that took the lives of 69 citizens, then we have no business being in office and it's a shame that we cannot get ourselves to even realise it. Unfortunately we cannot continue with numbers because the list is endless.
#1 Admission into the forces because of Job security
Without any disrespect to anyone's craft or career, the forces are not marketing clubs or an association that people join for the pleasure of joining. Joining the forces is a patriotic decision and it ought to remain so. But what do we see these days, majority of new recruits join the forces in order to secure employment and financial freedom. This, my dear readers is the root of all the problems.
volunteer for the world war I in the United Kingdom waiting for their allowance
"YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU" Was a popular campaign in the United Kingdom during the first world war, and between 1914 and 1915, hundreds of thousands of youths volunteered to join the forces to fight Germany. Today, in our contest, the youths refuse to volunteer and when they're paid to work they end up neglecting. Join the forces because and not because you love cash.
At his enaugural speech, John F Kennedy said to his constituents in paragraph 27, " ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man". Those were not words of greed amd selfishness or love for money, those were patriotic words!!!
#2 Lack of advanced logistics
The Ak 47 has served us well and there's no we're going to argue about that, till today the Ak 47 is still much useful. Aren't we enslaving our minds into thinking that Ak 47 is all we need? Weapons, ammunitions and other logistics have improved since the release of the Ak 47. Due to the lack of advanced logistics, the enemy seems to a step ahead of us.
#3 lack of adequate investment in information infrastructure
Forces do not use African magic or witchcraft, they leverage on systems and structures. An information infrastructure that is capable of. Providing real time information on attack and potential attacks. The lack of a unified and centralized information capable of providing real-time analysis and quick decision making has over the years prevented quick response. Intelligence gathering through information centers is the surest way to double up on these rootless miscreants.
We find ourselves in an information age and anyone who fails to take advantage of same does so on his own peril.
These information monitoring and surveillance systems would help forces to monitor social media accounts and well as potentially dangerous information that may be in circulation.
#4 lean budgetary allocation
Before we dive deeper into the merits of the lean budget conundrum, I'll first like to acknowledge efforts made by successive governments towards increasing budgetary allocation for forces. Countries like Niger, Chad, Mali and Burkina Faso have some of the highest Military Budget allocations. while they're sacrificing as much as 2.4%, 3.1%, 3.3% and 2.7% respectively, the sacrifice seem to be inadequate for the most part.
these amazing figures do not necessarily translate to huge amounts of resources for the forces, and this is precisely so because budgetary allocations by parliaments in the sub region does not always result in cash releases. in most cases full amount is not released with the excuse that there is no cash or revenue generation fell short of expectation.
Even away from the actual amounts released by governments, higher budgetary allocation is expected from these countries given that this is one of their most pressing issues. it has reduced economic growth, it has put citizens in constant fear and panic, it has caused loss of precious lives and it has caused governments so much resources!!! When COVID-19 struck in 2020, huge and exceptional budgetary allocations were made to cushion citizens even though COVID-19 only accounted for a few hundred deaths. unfortunately, governments are not able to give more or at lest equal energy to this one issue that has let to the deaths of 1000s.
#5 Indiscipline among personnel
It is not uncommon to find officers on duty crossing their legs comfortably and burying their heads in their phones browsing social media channels. regrettably so, this makes them loose focus on the job and give assailants an opportunity to attack precisely when their attention is divided. It is also not uncommon to site officers on duty remove their shoes, uniforms and rest their rifles beneath their bed or chair. this singular action leaves them susceptible to terrors.
Some levels of indiscipline in other areas of work can be tolerated as they pose minimum damage potential to personnel. unfortunately, in the forces indiscipline may not only result in the death of the officers involved in such indiscipline but could ultimately lead to many deaths including vulnerable and defenseless citizens like we saw in Banibangu in the republic of Niger in November 5 ,2021.
In the images above, we clearly identify personnel busy taking photo-shoot. Why exactly? No one knows!!! Such a distraction an the battlefield is so much unwarranted. This is how the enemy surprises them and spray then to death. This is just a few.
#6 abuse of social media tools by personnel
Social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram among others have served as reliable sources of information for Boko Haram extremists in the Sahel states. Officers share their locations on their timelines and provide constant updates on where they are and where they would soon be. it is uncommon to see publications of officers on Facebook soliciting for prayers from friends, family and other well wisher.
They may be naïve about the ills of social media or may deliberately choose to ignore signs but it does not take away its potential of causing loss of both lives and property.
can we ever get to put an end to officers using social media? not not sure about that. however I strongly believe that with training, workshops and campaigns we can reduce the rate at which officers publish confidential information that could put their lives in danger.
Men in uniform don't seem to understand that social media is not for everyone and it's rather unfortunate.
#7 Lack of support from constituents
Forces run on reliable information. If constituents are not able to furnish forces with the needed information, they would not be in the position to function as expected. Maybe because of illiteracy, maybe because of lack of trust towards the forces or maybe a deliberate attempt to deny the forces needed information.
At this point it is crucial to start and run campaigns to sensitize citizens on the need to share information. When citizens spot anything or anyone unusual, the least they should do is to inform authorities but what do we see? Total silence.
Yes the state has a duty to protect citizens, and the State would continue to do that. But while at it, every individual has to create a second line of defense by repelling and reporting any suspicious activity in the community.
#8 Political Instability
In the west African sub-region, presidential elections have always been tainted with rigging. Even post election, we see a keen rivalry between candidates. Recent developments in Mali and Guinea has exposed the kinds of power wrangling that play out behind the seems. these instabilities inhibits success as far as fighting Boko haram extremists is concerned. it is often said that, a house that is divided in itself cannot stand right? YES!!! that's exactly what we're seeing.
Recommendation and conclusion
All is not lost yet!!! I believe we can rise to the occasion. I have traveled to 5 countries in the sub-region and I saw beautiful, peaceful and united people who are in dire need of a transformational leader who will spearhead this agenda of kicking these terrorists out for good. there are many who are willing to lay down their lives for the survival of their country but only few get the "privilege".
In the past few years, may have expressed dissatisfaction about how their countries are run. we saw it in Mali, Niger, Guinea and Even in Ghana were we had the first ever organic, peaceful and twitter based demonstration (#fixthecountry). surprisingly, the reply from from some government members suggested that the citizens ought to fix themselves first ant it was unfortunate.
THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH Romans 6:23, in the same spirit, the wages of wilfully staying aloof while citizens are killed is EVERLASTING CONDEMNATION.
---Alem---
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