In the deepest recesses of Naija’s Northeast, quiet mountains and
hills in the underbelly of Adam state quaked vigorously. Sounds of artillery
fire and gunpowder competed in distilling insanity and sanctity. Birds revolted
by chirruping voices of dissent against the Boko criminal gangs. They polluted
the eerie, breezy evening by terminating the desire of souls wishing to retire
for early night rest.
The cursed
Boko gangs came, but were repelled by Naija forces. The dingdong sound in the
trenches and atop mountains conveyed the extent the Boko gangs had been
uprooted aground by Naija Sojas. They could not light a fire!
Panic,
exasperation and anxiety replaced comportment and Naija people thought the end
to their wretched lives had come. But it was all a fluke.
No! Salvation
nosed in their backyard at the ninth hour. Wailing voices of trapped Naija
people turned into laughter. The “Lieutnant General Powell ,” personally led
troops on the land assault on invaders.
Boko
Haramists had touched sore nerves and they paid dearly, in deaths and abandoned
weapons when Naija forces staged repelling combat. For hours, the loud sounds
of weapons resonated, but eventually melted into silence. The harmists
had been flattened in expiration. The wounded licked their wounds; the dead
became meals for wild vultures and reptiles.
It was a day
and a job accomplished. Troops filed back triumphantly to base, in
admirations and cheers by locals. One nightmare has eclipsed into the joy of a
bright dawn.
Lieutenant
General Powell and his troops pulled out from the warfront, after another batch
of Sojas had replaced the battalion he led to the warfront. He proceeded to the
Military Battalion Base in Yola.
At the camp,
sojas of the larger “Operation Victory Forever “ had just finished their dinner
and lighted bonfire for the usual dose of evening time-out. It was a daily
ritual which afforded troops time to unwind and review operations of the day to
re-strategize.
Mood at the
Battalion Base electrified and the sit-out at the camp fire that day was
expected to be long. They had an august visitor, General Soldier, Soji,
who could neither be served a meal or drink, but would depart satisfied that
Naija forces are in good stead.
So, troops
waited anxiously and excitedly at his arrival. Soon, Warrant Officer
Barnes , bellowed, “atteeeenshon!!.” Soldiers stood erect as they gave their
boss warm military salute and compliments. Powell sharply acknowledged the
salute with cheers.
He strolled
round the file of troops, gazing and smiling at delighted faces. It was his
peculiar; charming posture which endeared officers and men of Naija forces to
him. Stern, thorough and very disciplined, but his infectious fatherly aura
dissolves the most hardened hearts.
The night was
quite friendly and inviting; one such nights where village night crawlers
hungered for a play or walk to the village market square. The neon rays of the
moon brightened the Military Battalion Base, illuminating silhouetted environs.
One could see far into the darkness, without blurring images.
Lt. Gen
Powell echoed; “You are welcome back from today’s routine operations.”
“I
congratulate all of you! What have been your experiences?” he asked the troops.
“Its being a
wonderful operation,” said the Battalion Commander, Brig, Gen. Charles .
Brig.
Gen Charles continued, “It was a resounding expedition. We are
excited at the exploits. We have been able to capture some terrorists,
and pushed the remnants of insurgents, farther afield outside the shores of
Nigeria.”
“That’s
good,” chipped Lieutenant General Powell . “More comments. Any operational
hiccups? ” he asked.
Major. Gen.
Abraham, the General Commander, chipped, “Sir, it was splendid. And I
think, with the streak of successes so far, we’re sure of
completing the clearance operations in the next few weeks in this axis.”
“That’s a
good one too,” Lieutenant General Powell quipped.
Having
listened to troops speak glowingly about the latest operations, Lieutenant Gen.
Powell cleverly shifted attention to what has been boggling his mind. There
were speculations’ about some grumbling soldiers on the warfront.
He wanted to hear directly from the troops how they felt about their welfare.
He began,
“But generally, I want us to interact and frankly too. I want to know if there
are any operational problems you have encountered in the camps.”
“I know your
excellent performance depends on your dedication and commitment to this
assignment. It depends on the extent we meet our own obligations to you. I am
your servant and here to listen to you,” General Powell enticed.
There was
silence for a while. And then Major Smart broke the stillness and
pin-drop silence.
“ I am not
sure, there is a problem, anywhere, sir. We are fed timely and with
delicious varieties of delicacies. We have enough stock of arms and
ammunitions; enough to make Boko Haram terrorists kick their ass anytime, we
confront them,” Major Smart stated.
Another
officer, who was eager to be heard, added a voice, when his raised hand alone could
not attract the needed attention. “Excuse me, sir,” Col.
Johnbosco pleaded.
“Yes, Yes!
Can we listen to Col. l Johnbosco ,” Powell said.
Pleasantly
surprised, that the General Soldier could identify him by name from
a distance, Col. Johnbosco took a deep breath and
thundered;
“Sir, we owe
our Commander-In-Chief, President Mai Geskiya and yourself, a debt
of gratitude. I have been on the battlefield at different times before now. But
never has it been so good with us on welfare packages like now under your
leadership.”
“Just
yesterday, my wife messaged me of receiving salary alert for this month, which
has five more days to end. Our operational allowances are paid regularly.
I am happy; we’re happy,” the Lt. Colonel said.
“That’s
alright!, and I hope you shall reciprocate the good gestures of President
Mai Geskiya by completely routing out terrorists from our nation? asked
General Soldier, Soji.
A thunderous
“yeeeees” rented the air.
An excited
Lieutenant General Powell gave them a brief sermon on why Mai Geskiya has
accorded ultimate priority to troops welfare.
“We are
soldiers operating in the 21st century and not some analogue age,” he said.
“The
leadership of our country has recognized that for military to effectively
combat wars these days, especially, the asymmetrical terrorism warfare, it is
serious business. We believe allowing issues of welfare of troops either on the
battlefield or at it affects their beloved families at home to linger
unresolved, means creating the cracks of disillusion and defeat of your own
troops by enemy forces,” Lieutenant General Powell explained.
He expanded
the more, “We know, it is our sacred responsibility to ensure
the physical and psychological comfort of troops at all times to enhance their
operational competence and performance”.
“We know a
soldier who goes to the warfront, thinking about the source of his next meal
would have divided attention.”
He
punctuated, “Preparing troops for a major assignment such as the
counter-insurgency operations does not mean providing the most modern and
sophisticated weapons alone. Welfare is key and we’re committed never to
renege on this obligation to our troops.”
Lieutenant
General Powell continued; “the strings of successes’ and victories
in our counter-insurgency operations are evidence of the results of the
sustained priority given to matters affecting troops
from all angles.”
“We are
happier, when you are happy; doing the daunting and tasking job of defending
and protecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Nigeria, ” he
added.
There was
dead silence as Naija forces listened to their boss in rapt attention.
“ It is the
sure way to boost your morale, inspire your spirit of patriotism
and loyalty to our dear country, Naija. A Military Force Army without
patriotism is ragtag security,” he said.
He assured,
“As long as President Mai Geskiya remains the numero uno of the Armed Forces of
Naija; so long as I remain your immediate boss, we can never let you down
in anyway.”
“Naija people
are praying for us every minute. And we shall also continue to pray to God for
ourselves; to give us strength and wisdom to come out of this adventure, intact
and victorious,” Lt. Gen Powell encouraged the troops.
“ I want you
to know, that Naija forces are the toast of every nation now. We’re
proud of you and only a fool can throw away a priceless gift.”
“We have won
battles and we aren’t kidding that we shall win consolidate on our victory over
the terrorists too. Do not allow disgruntled elements sow the seed of discord
amongst you. It is a certified means of dampening your spirit for Boko Haram
insurgency to thrive,” Powell cautioned.
“I want to
thank every one of you for your individual and collective efforts in this
assignment. I sight the day of victory, very close to us and so, we must not
relent.”
He
pleaded, “Please, can we take the closing remarks as you retire to
your duty posts and don’t forget that vigilance should continue to be your
watch word.”
A tall,
skinny officer, commanding one of the Platoons stepped out to speak.
“ I have the
mandate of my colleagues, to extend our appreciation to President Mai
Geskiya and the Lieutenant General Powell for their
faithfulness to us and committed leadership,“ Col. Jackson stated.
“ Sir,
we’re emboldened by your words of encouragement and fatherly leadership.
You adorn your military “khaki” and hop into the trenches and jungles with us.
It is rare and an exceptional style of leadership by example. When you go back
to headquarters, tell all our bosses that we’re more determined to terminate
the reign of terrorism now than ever before. None of us will falter, until we
deliver to Naija people, a country, free from terrorism” Col.
Jackson assured.
Lieutenant
General Powell bade them good night and disappeared into the still night. He
was not headed for a romance of his camp bed. Rather, he veered into the next
camp to have another interface with troops at a different battalion.
Uche, a
freelance writer sent in this article from Lagos.
