“A man belongs to his fatherland when things are good and life is sweet. But when there is sorrow and bitterness he finds refuge in his motherland” Chinua Achebe, Things fall apart.
The escapades of the Nigerian Army in this age have largely gotten little attention because there are sorrows and bitterness in the fatherland, and the motherland’s refuge is a cold stare.
As the morning Sun broke in its burning glory in Maiduguri, I couldn’t hear the annoying crows that often broke my morning’s at home; one of the many reasons I dislike hotels. One cannot simply be notified by crows of daybreak.
As I readied myself for the journey, I couldn’t prepare myself adequately for a lot of things. I chose my seat at the back of the bus by force of habit, plugged my earpiece as a sign of “don’t disturb” in millennial parlance, but I didn’t choose Musa a native of Borno to be my seatmate and personal tour guide.
We chatted about conflict and how it had influenced his hometown. I felt a sort of camaraderie with Musa who gave me a background of the resilience of the people of Maiduguri and how they’ve fought back for what is theirs. He told me how men of the Nigerian army in collaboration with men of the Civilian JTF were taking back the city step by step.
It’s not every day one attempts something brave, call me foolish, but today in my minutes of bravery, I met the people who throw themselves in the face of danger every day. Living at the edge of the Sambisa forest must have been a treat before, but now, only gallant few positions themselves at the mouth of what a lot of us presume evil.
“No, be your mates de fight Boko haram for Sambisa ” has become a silent taunt for some personnel of the Nigerian Army.
Oftentimes we do not see the stories from the view of those we’ve sent to the tip of the dagger. In hindsight, our lack of view for their efforts metamorphosizes into something more sinister.
It is disheartening that the true axis of evil; Boko haram are not being called and described by their true actions and deeds.
As our trip to Bama progressed, we passed through Kondunga, we had shared stories on the internet about how insurgents had ravaged the territory but we said little on how it was retaken. I saw nature claiming what insurgents had taken, and gentle human activities returning to its place. The presence of the military, CJTF, and other security outfits was a silent reassurance of the protection Nigeria was trying to provide.
I was informed that the insurgents had viewed Bama as their spiritual headquarters, and as such, the battle for it was hard-fought. The Shehu’s Palace in Bama was for some weeks the residence of Shekau before he was displaced.
The theater commander Major General O. G. Adeniyi and the men of the 21 Special brigade Bama did their job in reclaiming and refusing the enemy a foothold. The theater commander reiterated that The Sambisa game reserve was the next course of action.
Battling insurgents can never be easy, the battle is against cowards who hit our weakest links and run across international borders.
In all, our resilience as a people is being tested, the insurgents tried to divide us but they failed. Our ire as a nation must be unanimous against the actions of evil.
We must never let our fears dictate our actions.
Finally, I met my kinsman G. Bukar from Wase LGA in Baga bearing the flags of Nigeria on his chest. I told him how honored I was to see my kinsman and his reply to me was, “we need all the encouragement we can get”.
I know we don’t say this a lot, THANK YOU to the Nigerian Army, all Nigerian security personnel who run to danger when they could’ve found refuge in their mother’s bosoms.
To all the men who fell in the line of duty, we remember the ultimate sacrifice you’ve made in the preservation of our peace.
Written by B.P Ndam.