The Army Is Not Needed In The Niger-delta. They Should Go Back To The Baracks

 The Army Is Not Needed In The Niger-delta. They Should Go Back To The Baracks

I just got an insight into the war of attrition between the NA and the ND militant groups. Its a clear case of who controls the lucrative security apparatus of oil installations in the SS. 

As its said when two elephants fight, the grass suffers. The grass in this context is the economy, and It would be shallow not to think that the ND militants and their likes are of the status to arm wrestle the mighty NA. The fact is that this army arrangement of the military guarding oil installations existed ab initio, their ways are well known and have been over used. It is not the duty of the army to guard installations against domestic threats, and the sustained presence of the army in the ND is to grease their pockets.
For a long time in Nigeria's military era, we have witnessed a sustained militarisation of the ND oil rich areas, while the people of these region got poorer. The table was turned under the present democracy, and the youth of these areas became more aware and since then have put a fight for their rights. It is the land of their fore fathers, and its security is better off in their hands... but the Nigerian government has always had a security complex, and its military a bloated ego due to an inflow of petrodollars.
This has made a northern bloc of leaders to do all it can to maintain the presence of the military in the ND, and the military has become used to the status quo. In this typical fashion, the army is not willing to let go of this prized portfolio and retire into the barracks... At least not without a fight.

The last regime in its wisdom and due to the close relationship with the youths and people of the SS region deemed it fit to hand out security contracts to ex militants. This was laudable, as sometimes the best way to secure an item is to put it under the watch of the one who is eyeing it, using the right incentives to keep their morals. In the case of the militants, with adequate training and exposure they would have been more professional than the army.
After all it is their home front, and their effectiveness would breed the right temperaments for their next generation. This is against having that old strategy of unknown soldiers who are often heavy handed in approach with their opportunistic tendency of taking advantage scenarios and abusing human rights. However, the old soldier at the helm, our very own General Casandra deemed it fit to go back to the old ways and we are in a hysterical position today; operation crocodile smile vs operation crocodile tears. This is coming at a time when the global usefulness of oil is on the downward slide.
When will the people of the ND whose livelihood have been so damaged by irresponsible over-exploitation by the governments and oil cartels benefit from its resources? The military feeding bottle must be destroyed because monies that should have gone into security apparatus made of locals of the ND are being funnelled into the NA accounts. The act of the NA in the ND is no different to what the Americans did in Iraq, and Afghanistan and in the long run, at this present antecedent would only bring anarchy.

I am of the belief that the integrity of the Nigerian military should be reserved and protected. Our old tradition of using military to guard installations, although beneficial to them, is an abuse to their usefulness. It makes them to often fall into the temptations of crime, exploitation of civilians and leads to a decline of their morals and morale. It also dwindles the respect they get from society when fear is not used and the love they get for their efforts. That is why there are regimented into barracks, and in civilised climes rarely venture out, unless on special assignments or authorised consent and in full military regalia. Nothing commands respect more.
It is also reasonable to see the usefulness of private security manned by these ex-militant in guarding these installations. Let us explore this option and wave good bye to a restive Niger Delta. At the same time the government needs to improve welfare of the military combatant, especially as to life within the barracks. You can't imagine how dilapidated their living quarters are, hence the reason they always itching to run out.
The NA are best suited in their barracks where they undergo training and exercises that makes them more effective, not in the creeks were they drink their lives to stupor and embarrassment. Outside a barracks the only thing sure for a combatant in a non-war situation is stagnation. If they want to guard oil installations, its my prayer that the resistance that they face only increase and become brazen. Otherwise, we see things different and apply a different method and let peace rain.

If the conflict in ND is properly managed, only then can this country heal. As far as i know, all agitation, militancy and terrorism that has been employed in this present republic of Nigeria stems from the issue of Niger Delta. The fact we still have the military guarding oil installations in the region also shows how much the system has failed to progress. This cat and mouse chase won't end until we are bold enough to address the root cause and damn the consequences.
There won't be an end to the debacle until the right strategies are methodically applied there, and it does not concern/involve the army, but the people, a restructured Nigeria, and an upgraded constitution.