A Plea for the Lives of Twelve Nigerian Soldiers on Death Row
In 1942 C. S. Lewis began a series of radio talks that were eventually published under the book title “Mere Christianity”. This period was a time of war; a time when the Second World War was at its peak. Lewis was making a case for Christianity in an increasing godless world, but his counsel also resounded as a message of hope to many British troops who were facing uncertain death, as they were shipped off to face Hitler’s Nazi soldiers in a bloody war. Quoting from Wikipedia’s note on the book, “Lewis spends most of his defense of the Christian faith on an argument from morality, a point which persuaded him from atheism to Christianity. He bases his case on a moral law, a ‘rule about right and wrong’ commonly known to all human beings, citing the example of Nazism; both Christians and atheists believed that Hitler’s actions were morally wrong.” I have drawn our attention to this relatively ancient book to remind the Nigerian people that this nation again is at war.
Whatever else public commentaries are designed to achieve, they must also be a source of hope and encouragement for the Nigerian troops as they face the deadly Boko Haram forces at war in the North-Eastern part of the country. I also need to remind us of a certain military term called the “rules of engagement” (ROE), which in normal street language will mean the rules that govern the use of force by the military. This paper shall not be doing an academic exercise on the above topic; I would rather wish to narrow down on some incidences that the Boko Haram quagmire has roused up and help the public understand them, while at the same hoping to send a message of hope to myriads of our gallant soldiers fighting that war on behalf of all of us.
A few days ago the media reported the outcome of the military court martial of twelve Nigerian soldiers who had been accused of mutiny, in a case where it was said that these soldiers opened fire on their superior officer in protest of an order he gave that led to the death of many of their colleagues in far away Borno State. The twelve soldiers were sentenced to death. Virtually all the commentaries I have read on this matter have condemned the outcome of the court martial; most of them calling it unfair and ridiculous. I disagree. If we must remind ourselves of the concept of the military’s rules of engagement, and in the light of those rules remember that the army also has rules for right and wrong, one cannot but agree with the outcome of the court martial of those soldiers; in spite of how distasteful it might sound in our ears. The whole military structure is based on the strength of command. The moment the command structure is compromised, military formations are faced with certain defeat before the enemy. Soldiers are trained to “obey before complain” regardless of the outcome of their obedience. The military court martial also recognized the fact that the superior officer gave a poor command and handed him the punishment of a compulsory retirement; a decision I agree was too light in comparison to the consequence of his action. Nonetheless, a situation should never arise where junior officers will open fire on a superior officer within the same military formation. It is a grave sin in the military, similar to a coup, and should be severely dealt with. This is the only way the military can discourage a repetition within its ranks and the most effective way to preserve the hallowed system of command that makes the military very efficient.
Having said that, I must quickly enjoin the public to change its tone of commentary on the outcome of the military court martial of these twelve men from that of “right” to that of “plea”. Though these men are guilty, we should at this point begin to seek an avenue for some kind of pardon to be meted out to them. My premise for pardon is based on the fact that providence was kind on the military officer that was shot at and ensured that he was not killed. Also, no other person was killed in the incidence. And so on this basis, we the Nigerian public wish to plead with the highest military command in the land to forgive these twelve soldiers and possibly reduce the death sentence to outright dismissal from the army. I am using this medium to plead with the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, to consider using his veto powers to reduce the sentences of these men. I understand that the message that the court martial was wishing to pass to other men of the uniform has been heard clearly and I do not think anyone in his right senses will repeat the actions of these men again. This pardon is equally needed to encourage our soldiers, who are in the heat of the war against insurgency in the land. If they see that the demeanor of their colleagues has been pardoned as a result of public plea, they will know that the whole nation appreciate their sacrifices and while praying for their successes at the war front, are also doing everything within their powers to encourage them. Again, our request for pardon for these soldiers is not based on “right” but on mercy. We plead that they will be forgiven and their sentence reduced.
In conclusion, I use this medium to praise the efforts of the Nigerian soldiers in curtailing the murderous escapades of the Boko Haram sect. Despite the obvious support that these animals have been receiving from foreign terrorist groups through financial aid, weapon supply and mercenaries, our soldiers have continually disseminated their ranks. We praise your efforts. We also pray that the good Lord will crown all of your efforts with successes. We have confidence that at this rate the Boko Haram insurgency will soon come to an abrupt end. Already the result of the assault that these animals are receiving is showing off in their inability to carry out terrorists attacks on other parts of the country. Nigeria will see the end of this insurgency by grace of God.
Amen.
