BIAFRA : Mercenaries for Boko Haram?

 

By Igboeli Arinze

Growing up as a kid, my first understanding of who a mercenary is came from the 1968 movie  ‘The Mercenaries’ (Also called the Dark of the Sun) which starred the likes of Rod Taylor, Jim Brown, Yvette Mimieux  and Peter Carsten, the movie, a screen adaptation of Wilbur Smith’s novel ‘Dark of the Sun’ depicted a group of mercenaries who invaded the Congo to steal 50 million dollars worth of diamonds.

Over the years other movies such as Inglorious bastards, the Wild Geese , Dogs of War and Rambo gave a great depiction of who a mercenary was, the history of wars fought such as the Nigerian Biafran War, the Congo Civil War, The Bush Wars in Rhodesia and The Angolan War saw mercenaries feature heavily. In the case of the Nigerian Biafran War names such as Ron Steiner, Taffy Williams, Pete Goosens and my favorite of all  the Swedish Von Rosen , aka the ‘Devil Pilot’ who fought for Biafra for free were all mercenaries who sought to aid the Republic of Biafra then remain as a fledging republic.

Today, even the word mercenaries to some extent has quite become obsolete, mercenaries are now known as Private Defence Contractors even though the process of engaging them remains the same, so I will pardon Professor Zulum, the Governor of Borno State who perhaps is stuck with such a word.

I will however fault Professor Zulum’s  calls for the deployment of mercenaries to help tackle the rampaging Boko Haram menace in the North Eastern part of Nigeria. The call, to any reasonable Nigerian smacks of the violation of the sovereignty of the Nigerian nation that we have to now place our security in the hands of Private Armies. No doubt, I can understand the passion of Governor Zulum, he is keen to govern in a land without Boko Haram or ISWAP terrorizing his citizens, no governor worth his salt would fold his hands and watch such without proffering a solution or two but methinks that Zulum is on the extreme for such a call.

Has it gotten to point where Nigeria, the supposed Giant of Africa now places her security as well as sovereignty in the hands of foreigners? Is this the same Nigerian Army with legends of what our forefathers did in Burma? Or where an Aguiyi Ironsi singlehandedly disarmed a Katangese  unit in Congo Kinshasha? Is this the Nigerian Army that beat back Chad and even crossed 59 km into Chadian nation to teach those petulant Chadians a lesson or two? What about our exploits in Liberia and Sierra Leone, was it not the same Nigerian Army that restored the peace in these respective areas giving the trio of Charles Taylor, Foday Sankoh and Johnnie Paul Koromah double whammies? I cannot accept such, it is a mockery of our nationhood.

Or what respect will world powers accord us, particularly those who might need us to help ensure a secure world in an era where the forces of globalization have changed the very nature of global security? A strong military will naturally keep or help protect a  nation’s interest. How do we ensure that our interests as the Giant of Africa are protected when it seems that we cannot beat a rag tag army of illiterates and marabouts? Haba!!!!

The calls for mercenaries is even insulting to the Nigerian Armed Forces,the numerous soldiers who have lost their lives in trying to protect the country and those still holding the rampart so that ‘bloody civilians like myself can close my eyes and sleep at night as well as pen pieces for my column. It is disrespectful to the colors of the Nigerian Army as well as its pride and prestige.

Even if it seems that the Nigerian Army appears not to be living up to its duty, an accusation that I much disagree with, the solution cannot be the import of mercenaries. Can we look at other basics such as recruiting more soldiers, training, better equipment, better coordination amongst the component branches of the Armed Forces, better intelligence gathering and the formation of lasting coalitions amongst member states where Boko Haram is a mutual problem and lastly the need to make those in charge accountable for the happenings in this war.

For example, I know that this administration has done its best in arming the military to enable it prosecute much better the war against the insurgents, if this is the case then it is about time , those in the rank and file take responsibility for the successes as well as failures of the military in this war, President Muhammadu Buhari should begin to demand much more from his service chief’s whom also ought to demand more from their officers within the rank and file. When heads are rolled, others in the rank and file would definitely sit up.

The call for mercenaries by Governor Zulum is a bad call, the authorities should kindly ignore him but see to it that our military boys are buoyed to see off these insurgents in a blaze of glory.

Nigeria shall succeed.