THE MILITARY; THE ENEMY WE KNOW BUT CANNOT STOP

We have always had to admit that we do not know the real Boko Haram, (except for Mr. President who claimed they have “bodily” infiltrated his government, yet incapacitated he has remained in handling them), but there is an enemy we know but unfortunately cannot do anything about…The Nigerian military! So, when the Military and Boko Haram clash, it is more like a duel between an invisible enemy (Boko Haram) versus a visible enemy (Military)…because as far as I am concerned, to an extent, the Military have grown to become an enemy of the average Nigerian.

The average Nigerian military man considers himself above the law, and like his other colleagues in the Police and other Para-military services, he neither regards human rights nor human life. The other day, a Colonel was caught red-handed by Governor Fashola as the former flouted in broad day light the laws of the Lagos State Government which prohibit anyone from driving on the BRT lanes. What was the soldier thinking of? Certainly, “I am above the law” he thought to himself.

The rate at which allegations of killing of innocent civilians by soldiers (under the aegis of the JTF) are flowing in should never be disregarded or taken with levity. The elders have cried out, people have lamented…but the military will dispel such allegations with mere words, and of course no one cares to probe, or should I say dares to probe. In Nigeria, the fear of the army is worse than the fear of the enemy in kidnappers, militants and Boko Haram, therefore who says the army is not an element of the set of enemies?!

The other day, Boko Haram had achieved an evil milestone in their own understanding after they killed an army Lieutenant…and then before you say ‘Jack Robinson’, the soldiers had gone on uninhibited rampage, opening fire with assault rifles and machine guns on innocent civilians as a form of retaliation. This is barbarism and an absolute loss of touch with reality. But as usual, their spokesman would be quick to cloud the situation with innocence on their part. Who knows the ratio of the number of widows/orphans between JTF and Boko Haram? God knows and will judge Boko Haram and also those who have grown to become enemies of the common man.

You might not appreciate matters until you have an encounter with this gun-lurking military people. They operate freely under the auspices of protecting our territorial integrity but without regards for human rights, human lives and less concerned for constituted authorities. They neither follow due process nor do they have the word patience in their vocabulary. In petrol filling stations, they drive in suddenly, harass innocent motorists who are peaceably on queue…they must be served before anyone. In traffic holdups, they illegally beat traffic and put pedestrian and motorist under tough and fearful pressure just because they have to (forcefully) make a way for themselves. In other cases, they cause artificial holdups simply because every car must park aside for them to pass…and on many occasions several innocent people have been bastardized for alleged disobedience and so-called disregard to their presence on the road. They have assumed the positions of “gods” whenever they are around. The harassment of civilians by the military is becoming unbecoming and must be checked because everyone is at risk…To them, you are never innocent.

The other day I was called and informed about what happened in a compound. One of the tenants was involved in a quarrel with somebody and the latter had informed someone who is a soldier. Amazingly but shamefully, the soldiers mobilized and stormed the compound but did not find their target, and decided to start harassing every male occupant of the compound. They had gone from house to house, breaking doors and brutalizing people the way they liked. A newly wedded young man who was returning from church with his Bible and unknowingly walked into the compound received a/an (un)fair share of their violence when he was hit…His offence was that he was male and walked into the compound at that period. Then the soldiers packed all the males they could find in the compound to an “unknown” destination after which they were released after being harassed. Let me remind you what happened; a tenant of the compound had a quarrel with someone and allegedly threatened him, and then the soldiers were “employed” and caused all these havoc I outlined. It is a shame!

 Is it not unfortunate that the military that should protect have also become enemies of our tranquility? He that should provide a soothing embrace in times of trouble now has thorns in his bosom. But certainly, and like I would say, everyone including the military will one day pay for his/her deeds before God. They may have their ways unlimitedly now…but God has the final say on the last day.