Soldiers Fighting Boko Haram, ISWAP Depressed, I’ve Ordered Troops Rotation — Buhari

Many Nigerian soldiers have become unhappy as a result of the long-running struggle against Boko Haram and ISWAP militants, causing President Muhammadu Buhari to order a troop rotation.

Mr Buhari, a former military and dictator, acknowledged that many soldiers suffer from depression, claiming that battle-weary soldiers are suffering from “battle fatigue.”

Last March, Mr Buhari’s party’s National Leader, Bola Tinubu, urged Mr Buhari to authorize the immediate recruitment of up to 50 million young Nigerians into the Nigerian Army, claiming that such a move would overwhelm the ragtag groups of insurgents and bandits terrorizing the country from all sides.

Mr Buhari hinted on Thursday that he had found a solution to the problem when he said during a visit to Boko Haram-ravaged Borno in the North-East that he had ordered the rotation of front-line soldiers to lessen battle fatigue.

Mr Buhari said his administration was devoted to the welfare of troops on the front lines while visiting troops in Operation HADIN KAI at the Maimalari Cantonment on Thursday.

“In addition, this government places a high priority on your well-being. Mr Buhari was cited by Garba Shehu, a media assistant, as saying, “I am delighted that the progressive rotation of the troops in the field has begun, as I directed.”

“I am confident that this will minimize, if not eliminate, battle fatigue, as well as boost soldier morale,” Mr Buhari added.

According to medicinenet.com, battle weariness is a type of post-traumatic stress disorder that affects some people who have experienced extremely traumatic events (and, for example, have been in a serious accident or through a war).

Initially, the person is numb, but gradually develops symptoms such as despair, irritation, guilt (for surviving while others died), repeated nightmares, flashbacks to the terrible scenario, and reactivity to startling stimuli.

According to the Peoples Gazette, the army proclaimed at least 100 troops sought for fleeing Boko Haram in March.

Despite the fact that many soldiers have been maimed or killed by terrorists, as well as reports of ill-equipped forces, Mr Buhari praised the soldiers and assured them of good treatment at all times.

“Your courage and gallantry will continue to inspire others as they echo into the future,” he assured the troops. “While I commend your resilience, let me remind you that there is still a lot of work to be done, to completely restore peace to the North-East, stem the activities of armed bandits in the North-West and North-Central, as well as deal with other security challenges across the country.”