How Army Changed the Tide against Boko Haram

The notorious activities of Boko Haram terrorists gained momentum immediately the current  Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, and other Service Chiefs were appointed over a year ago, expanding territories and capturing women and children. However, Minimah, as a war time general, was able to rise to the occasion and turn the tide of the war against the terrorists by adopting several game-changing strategies, writes Senator Iroegbu

Early last year, President Goodluck Jonathan surprised Nigerians with sudden changes at the top echelon of the military hierarchy with the removal of the then Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim; Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika; and Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Joseph Ezeoba, with many wondering how the new leadership would impact the ongoing war against terror, particularly in the North Eastern part of the country.

Jonathan, in a strategic move to inject new hands and fresh ideas in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists, quickly announced new replacements for the former military chiefs; in an ultimate push to bring the State of Emergency rule in three North Eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, to a successful end.

Consequently, the President in a statement issued on January 16, 2014, by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, directed the then Maj-Gen. Kenneth Tobiah Jacob Minimah to take over from Ihejirika as the new COAS; and Rear Admiral Usman O. Jibrin taking over from Ezeoba as the new CNS; while Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Adesola Nunayon Amosu took over from Badeh as the new CAS. They have since then been promoted to the ranks of Lieutenant General, Vice Admiral and Air Marshal respectively.

However, the decisive changes with special focus on the leadership of the Nigerian Army and Defence Headquarters (DHQ) saw Badeh as the only service Chief to have survived the purge in the military high command, and Minimah taking over from a hitherto trusted and effective Ihejirika, thereby marking a new phase in the Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Insurgency (CT COIN) operations.
Accordingly, the removal and replacement of the former service chiefs, especially Ibrahim and Ihejirika brought to an end an era described by some as that of the old guards, paving the way for the senior officers with more contemporary ideas.

One of the top security experts in the country, Mr. Max Gbanite, while analyzing the changes a year ago, expressed belief that the newly-appointed crop of service chiefs represented beginning of a new era in the ongoing transformation of the nation’s armed forces
As serving officers, Gbanite said, they have witnessed the challenges presented by global terrorism and the unconventional way modern conflicts were being fought and are therefore expected to bring fresh ideas to the table.
According to him, the President is aiming at new reforms and new strategies by appointing the new service chiefs.

“He has once said it that the service chiefs need to come up with new reforms, ideas and strategies. So, with that aims and objectives, he can decide to bring in new hands. The issue now is this: Are the incoming service chiefs capable of taking the military to the next level? Anybody who has reached the rank of Major-General in the Nigerian Army is capable of handling the position of COAS,” Gbanite said.
The security and defence analyst also emphasized that Nigeria is not fighting a conventional and symmetric warfare with uniformed adversary where the enemy’s battle lines are known.

“This is an asymmetrical warfare where you do not know where the battle lines are drawn either within your barracks or outside but collectively, the service chiefs with other supporting agencies have been able to contain this bombs from coming into Abuja and various cities of the country. The only remaining tactics of Boko Haram is to come in and do a lightning strike in schools or even in barracks”, he said.

The Shaky Beginning and Baptism of Fire

There was no doubt that the shake up at the top military hierarchy, effectively brought to an end the era of the last service chiefs who inherited a military structured and accustomed to conventional warfare, but to their credit successfully laid the foundation for a modern and efficient force that would be better able to tackle contemporary security challenges posed by terrorism and insurgency. Therefore, it was expected that when Minimah and the new team took over, it would be a smooth consolidation of the success on ground. Unfortunately, it was not to be so as the challenges facing the armed forces in general and Nigerian Army in particular was deep and chronic.

Consequently, instead of hitting the ground running, the new Army Chief faced baptism of fire accentuated by the plethora of surprising and humiliating defeats suffered by the troops at the hands of rag-tag Boko Haram terrorists. Suffice it to say that there was already a stalemate and lull in the counter-terrorism operations by the time Minimah inherited the war, owing largely to the barrage of criticisms by the Borno Elders Forum, Northern Elders Forum and other foreign human rights bodies against what they claim as the aggressive but effective tactics of Ihejirika led Army, and as well as simmering crack in the relationship between the leadership of the service and the rest, particularly the DHQ and Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

Forced to adopt new strategies toward successful prosecution of the CT-OIN operations, Minimah and the entire military force suffered severe setbacks, losing grounds, territories recovered by their predecessors and more alarmingly, Boko Haram expanded beyond their original enclaves.

The worst part of this episode however, was the kidnapping of over 200 girls who were participating in the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) at the Government Secondary School (GSS), Chibok, Borno State by the Boko Haram terrorists on April 14, 2014. Consequently, this particular event conspired to ridicule the image of the Nigerian military and particularly, that of the Nigerian Army.
Not many were happy that such large number of girls could be abducted in a state and area expected to be under the protection of the Army without a trace, giving an ample weapon to those who ended up making merchandise out of lampooning and ridiculing the military under President Jonathan.  And for Minimah, there could have never been a worse and embarrassing start to ones reign at the helm of the Nigerian Army.

It Even Got Worse Before it Got Better
Not only did Minmah’s reign start on a shaky footing, it worsened over time as the news of general indiscipline, lack of morale, funding and bizarre form of cowardice, desertion and acts of mutiny by some officers and personnel became the order of the day.

Afterwards, appalling videos emerged in various media outlet exposing the Nigerian military in disarray, deserting their positions, and running away from confronting a haggard looking, poorly trained but determined, spirited and suicidal terrorists.

In addition, soldiers were complaining of lack of proper weapons, welfare and sabotage, which culminated in the brazen mutiny and attempted assassination against the then General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Div, Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen. Abubakar Mohammed (rtd).

Consequently, the chaos that followed allowed Boko Haram to seize more territories, expanding from Gwoza, which they converted to defacto Headquarters of their short-lived Caliphate to Baga, Bama and Gamboru Ngala in Borno to as a far as Gulak, Michika-Madagali, Hong and Mubi the hometown of the CDS in Adamawa state.

Expectedly, the rapid losses was not well received by both Nigerians, the international community, federal government and particularly, the military authorities, with accusing fingers that did not help the operations but maligned the forces and government of the day coming from different quarters.

It could be recalled that the first to fire the salvo was the Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, who claimed that “the Boko Haram insurgents had better firepower, and equipment, than our troops”.

Shettima’s damning verdict against the Nigeria military was corroborated by other prominent leaders and politicians from the North who ridiculed the efforts of the Armed Forces as poor and half-hearted. Sadly, the consternation that followed the criticisms bruised the military morale, and opened up a deep division between some of the soldiers and the military top brass.
THISDAY reported how the military authorities warned that the continuous attack against the security forces was being interpreted as a calculated attack against their morale and to weaken the operation against Boko Haram terrorists.

Reacting to the criticisms, the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, in a statement with the theme: “Stop the Attacks on Security Forces’ Morale”, accused some “set of Nigerians” and media platforms of being in the habit of belittling the efforts of the military.
Olukolade said that it had become obvious that some people by their actions and utterances had become spokespersons for the outlawed Boko Haram Islamic sect. He further warned those who have made it their past time to ridicule the security forces in order to weaken their resolve to desist or face the consequences, which he noted, must be pursued with due process.

He said: “The military has also noted with great concern the orchestrated attack on the morale of the Nigerian security forces engaged in the fight against terrorism by a section of the political elite. “They make frivolous and unfounded claims and allegations on welfare of soldiers under the pretext of being more caring for the welfare and condition of Nigerian soldiers but their intention is to encourage indiscipline and ultimately mutiny”.

“This set of Nigerians has taken up every available media platform to disparage efforts of the leadership of Nigerian Armed Forces in the fight against terror. Indeed, the tendency is propelled by nothing altruistic other than to curry undue political capital out of the unfortunate crisis in the North-east.

“They have not only accused the military and security authorities of denying the soldiers and other security personnel of their entitlements, they have been spreading the sick rumour that the gallant Nigerian soldiers are grumbling over inadequate resources and lack of motivation to take on the insurgents”.

Consequently, the growing rift between Officers and other ranks, especially soldiers in the Nigerian Army accentuated by barrage of criticisms, reached a frightening state that both sides of the divide doubts each other’s sincerity in the counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency efforts thereby weakening their resolve to successful fight Boko Haram Islamic Sect.
Accordingly, military authority alerted that rather than superior Boko Haram terrorist fighters or lack of weapon by the army, it’s acts of cowardice, indiscipline and desertion from battlefield that constitutes the greatest danger in the ongoing fight against terrorism and insurgency in the country. The soldiers on the other hand, blamed their senior officers for insincerity, accusing them of corruption and leaking vital information to the terrorists.

Coupled with the nagging issue of indiscipline, cowardice and sabotage, the Nigerian Army under Minimah were also punctuated by alleged conspiracy from the international community, which was highlighted by the failure of the United States and her allies to fully assist in the purchase of the needed weapons to prosecute the war against terror. This conspiracy came to the fore during the botched $15million arms deal in South Africa.

The Konduga Battles, General Court-Martial and Turning Point
Despite these setbacks, Minimah like other great war-time generals did rise to the occasion in collaboration with other Service Chiefs and the National Security Adviser (NSA) to turn the tide of war against the Boko Haram terrorists.

Symbolically, the battle for Konduga where the Nigerian Army inflicted heavy losses on the insurgents on several occasions, including the killing of the Abubakar Shekau impostor, Mohammed Bashir (aka Damasak), reversed the psychology of an invincible Boko Haram. This was attributed to change of tactics by the Nigerian Army, which prior to that period had suffered some embarrassing losses including the famous “tactical maneuver into Cameroun”.

More importantly, the General Court-Martial (GCM) instituted by the Minimah led Nigerian Army to mete out appropriate punishment to erring officers and soldiers whose acts of cowardice had helped dent the image and impact negatively on the morale of the military, had been described as one of the ultimate strategies that changed the game against the terrorists. It would be recalled that despite the general outcry, Minimah with the support of other service chiefs embarked on the trial, sentencing and dismissal of the bad eggs that had in one way or the other derailed the war effort.

In addition, Minimah through the instrumentality of the NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, the CDS, Ministry of Defence and ultimately, approval of President Jonathan were able to acquire the right kind of weapon that helped to turn the heat on the terrorists that today almost all the lost territories have been recovered. Also, the same stakeholders were fully involved to secure the cooperation of the once reluctant neighbours of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) with the troops from Chad, Cameroun and Niger Republic playing a significant role to starve the terrorists of any safe haven in their respective territories.
In the same vein, a combination of the above factors, which was as a result of his deft leadership, would not have been possible without a harmonious working relationship with other service Chiefs, especially the CDS and CAS.

Hearing from The Horse’s Mouth,
Other Stakeholders
There is no one who can describe better how the Nigerian military  was able to turn the tide against the Boko Haram terrorists within the space of six weeks, having not been able to achieve that years back, other than one of the arrowheads, Gen. Minimah.
The COAS had in a recent interview with some journalists in Abuja, noted that about three to four key factors were responsible for the dramatic turnaround against the terrorists. According to him, the game-changing factors were the change of military tactics, enforcement of discipline through the court-martials, purchase of new and appropriate weapons, and the agreement with the neighbouring countries of the LCBC to join the war.

The Army Chief said that the obsolete weapons and the difficulty in acquiring the right kinds of arms and ammunitions derailed the counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency war in the North East.
He said: “It is a common knowledge too that the Nigerian Army has been demanding equipment from the government, it is a common knowledge too that part of the seething problems of the war against the insurgency has been requisite modern equipment for the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Armed forces.

“It is a common knowledge too that the equipment the Nigerian Army had, were old , aging, obsolete equipment and that we were doing local repairs to maintain them. It is common knowledge too that the Nigerian troops were running from battle, it is also common knowledge too that the government was doing everything it could to buy equipment for the army”. According to Minimah,” the equipment that arrived changed the battle dynamics, changed the battle platform, everything reversed, the terrorists started running, and we changed the battle, that is what happened.

“The personality of the chief of army staff, utility of the equipment that arrived, changing the dynamics, changing the individual soldiers, that is what we have done. So for the common man who does not understand, let him have his rights to free speech, he can interpret it any way he wishes, but for you who know you know that certainly nobody was keeping war, to be dying and losing colleagues every day because he hopes he was going to win at the end. What of if victory does not come at the end. Leave them, it’s their right to free speech”.
On the Court-Martial, Minimah made it clear that the gale of desertion from battle field, cowardice, sabotage and general state of indiscipline was more damaging to the counter terrorism efforts than even lack of arms and ammunition.
“What you do not know too is that the battle had been turned before the equipment arrived, because the average officer realized now that if he runs, he would be court martialed.
“The soldier knows that if he runs away he will be dismissed. So everybody was prepared to stand and fight and die, because if you run back there is nothing. And for the fact that they stood and fought back for hours instead of running caught the Boko Haram by surprise...and terrified”, he said.  In the same vein, the COAS noted that, “at one point these equipment came in, and with my personal effort of ensuring that officers and soldiers were court-martialed, dismissed for running in the face of adversaries, for abandoning the equipment we have and running away and so forth, the psyche of the Nigerian soldier changed”.
Minimah said that he and other Service Chiefs were able to convince the authorities at the Council of State Meeting, drawing their attention to the fact that apart from the arrival of the needed weapons and discipline amongst the officers and soldiers, the entrance of the once reluctant neighbours and members of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) of Chad, Cameroun and Niger Republic was important.
Of course, he said, I convinced them that it was very much achievable, more so that our neighbors, who have been lukewarm, have all of a sudden decided to join the battle.
He added: “They realized in their own right that if Nigeria eventually defeats this terrorism it will empty into their own territories if they do not join the war. Of course Chad had its economic blockade and had to join the war for economic reasons to reopen the routes- the Maiduguri-Malam Fatori-Pulka, from Camerounian side to Chad was blocked by these elements. The Nigerian side was blocked by them and much of their goods and services were coming from Cameroun and Nigeria, they had no choice but to join the war.
“Niger also saw the genuine reason to join the war because they knew their country was like traffic for the Boko Haram, arms and ammunition, and sometimes for recruitment of individuals who they used as war machines and so forth and indoctrinate them. They too decided they were going to join the war, because to me they saw it lately that we are going to turn this thing around and if we turn it, these elements would run into their countries. Prior to this time, these countries had always been sanctuaries to Boko Haram terrorists, they move in freely and come out freely”.
“Cameroun did not show much enthusiasm not until they (terrorists) moved in en masse into their country and started causing destruction, killing, kidnapping and so forth. They now realized they also had to fight the Boko Haram terrorists. I tried to explain it to that August body that with our contiguous neighbours showing greater enthusiasm to participate in the war that the end was near. This is because all we need now is to push them up, they cannot run into any of those countries, once they all block their borders, we are good to go.  And of course, it was reluctantly agreed, and today we are witnesses to what has become of it. So it’s a feat that was never thought of but we have achieved it”.
Similarly, Air Marshal Amosu, during a press conference to mark the 51st Anniversary of the NAF, attributed the rapid victory against the Boko Haram in the past three months to certain factors including the agreement with neighbouring countries, acquiring the right weapons and discipline through the Court-Martial by the Nigerian Army. “I totally agree with the line of action with Chief of Army Staff (Minimah), we cannot function properly as a military organization,” he said.
Accordingly, Gbanite described the COAS as a brilliant man, great achiever and without whose inputs, the rebuilding of the military morale would have been difficult to achieve. He said: “When he came in the morale was low. Overall if I am to judge Minimah, he is one of the best COAS. It will be sad to lose him and because of ethnic balancing to allow such a fine General to retire.
“Anyway there is nothing we can do owing to regional and ethno-religious consideration but if I am to advice Buhari it would have been better to leave him for at least one year to consolidate on what he has started”.  Definitely however, Gbanite noted, there is room for improved intelligence, collaboration with other security agencies, and to also expand the Special Forces and airborne division.
“He faced the challenge of indiscipline but once he tackled it, the victory against Boko Haram became guaranteed”, he added.
Also speaking, another security analyst and former Director at the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Mike Ejiofor, described Minimah as a visionary leader who has set the Nigerian Army on the right path despite the initial failings.
“The fact remains that since he assumed the leadership of the Army he has brought some quality input to the system based on discipline, transparency and accountability. “You know when he came one of the first things he did in the Army was to ensure discipline through Court-Martial because the military were seen then as being afraid of Boko Haram. And with the morale boosting, equipping of the fighting force with modern weaponry helped in the fight. So leadership matters a great deal and in terms of successes”, Ejiofor noted.
“Of course you know he wouldn’t have done it alone because his relationship with other services, especially the intelligence services, is very cordial, which also led to yielding valuable intelligence. This is important because the fulcrum of this operation is hinged on valuable intelligence. “Even though he suffered losses at the beginning but what he has gained and the achievements recorded so far outweighs the initial setbacks,” he concluded.

There Still Exists Some Clogs in The Wheel of Progress
Minimah, as rightly stated by some defence and security analysts, will have his legacy cemented as one of the best COAS in the history of the Nigerian Armed Forces, having triumphed over myriad of challenges with limited resources in a war time situation.
However, there still remain some blips in these blistering achievements, which may conspire to dent his sterling stewardship and legacies in the past one year as the head of the Nigerian Army. These clogs in the wheel of military progress are as at today, the two thorny issues and mystery that are yet to be resolved; including the liberation of over 200 Chibok girls said to be under Boko Haram captivity, and the capture or killing of their eccentric leader, Abubakar Shekau, who has gone quiet since the latest offensive.
Therefore, in order to maintain a stainless legacy and ink his name in the appreciative minds of Nigerians, Minimah should as a matter of urgency and if time permits with the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders in the nation’s security, resolve the mysteries surrounding Shekau and the Chibok girls.
Nevertheless, if he fails in this bid, it will still take nothing away from steering the Nigerian Army on the right path to greatness as well as a solid foundation for succeeding Army Chiefs to consolidate and build on as a formidable and contemporary force able to tackle the emerging security challenges.