It was Winston Churchill who said: “We sleep safely at night because rough men stand ready to visit violence on those who would harm us.” Churchill, one of the world’s greatest war heroes of the 20th century and British prime minister during the Second World War was extolling the indispensable role of the army in the life of a nation. Nigeria whose army celebrated its 150th anniversary recently can count itself among the nations of the world whose soldiers can be relied upon to ensure peace and security of its people and of course of the entire nation.
Nigeria, once more found it expedient to fall back on its armed forces to confront a hydra headed monster in terrorism spearhead by Boko Haram. The nation was held on its jugular by terrorists group which went on rampage, killing, maiming hundreds of people, as well as destroying properties running into billions of Naira in the Northern part of the country.
The criminality of the sect compelled President Goodluck Jonathan to declare a state of emergency in three states in the North Eastern part of the country: Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa on May 14 2013. It would have been difficult to imagine what would have become of our nation, by now, if the state of emergency had not been declared. Again the nation’s army and its cousins in the military were called upon to salvage their fatherland from the senseless and misguided insurrection.
It is therefore understandable why President Jonathan used the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Nigerian Army, the previous Saturday, to pay tribute to the nation’s military over its fight against terrorism and the collective efforts at making the nation to remain as one indivisible entity. According to the President “Terrorism is anti-people; it is anti-progress and we must stamp it out of our nation.
“This administration’s firm resolve is to do everything in our constitutional powers to ensure the security and safety of all law abiding citizens. It is a commitment that we have made and kept with great dedication and we will continue to keep it”, he said.
He however called on the military to abide by the rules of engagement and respect human rights in their fight against terrorism. He made this statement the previous Saturday in Abuja at the parade to mark the grand finale of the 2013 Nigerian Army Day Celebration which coincided with the 150th anniversary of the nation’s army. According to the president, “As we march forward, I urge you to continue to abide by the Army hallow practice and core character of service.”
“I also urge you to keep to the rules of engagement, especially respect for human rights in all your operational activities.
“In the current stabilising phase of your operations, the welfare and well-being of the people of the communities where you live and work must be your primary focus,” said the country’s leader.
President Jonathan said he was pleased to find out from the initial assessment report of the conduct of military operations since the declaration of emergency rule that the strategies had been well thought out and was progressing satisfactorily. He noted that the government services and private businesses had resumed in areas previously occupied by the insurgents, and the lives of people in those areas had started to recover as well. President Jonathan also encouraged the military to defend the people living in the country against terrorist elements.
He also advised the military to strengthen its collaboration with other security agencies and friendly partner nations to enhance their effectiveness.
“Terrorism is anti-people; it is anti-progress and we must stamp it out of our nation. This administration’s firm resolve is to do everything within our constitutional powers to ensure the security and safety of all law abiding citizens.
“It is a commitment that we have made and kept with great dedication and we will continue to keep it”, Jonathan stated.
The president used the opportunity to praise the Nigerian Army for their commitment and work, and pledged that government would continue to support the armed forces and meet their needs to enable them discharge their task of ensuring a united Nigeria.
“I want to specially congratulate you, your spouses and families on this important anniversary. I want to thank you as you serve our nation. Nigeria deeply appreciates your sacrifice”, he added.
The Nigerian Army has indeed come a long way. The military account has it that the history of the Nigerian Army dates to 1863, when Lt Glover of the Royal Navy selected 18 indigenes from the Northern part of the country and organised them into a local force, known as the “Glover Hausas”. The small force was used by Glover who was then governor of Lagos to mount punitive expedition in the area, as well as the hinterland to protect British trade routes around Lagos. In 1865, the “Glover Hausa” became a regular force with the name “Hausa Constabulary”. It performed both police and military duties for the Lagos colonial government. It later became “Lagos Constabulary”. On incorporation into the West Africa Frontier Force, WAFF, in 1901, it became “Lagos Battalion”. In addition to this force, the British Government included the Royal Niger Company, RNC, Constabulary Force in Northern Nigeria in 1886 and the Oil Rivers irregular in 1891.In 1889, Lord Fredrick Lugard had formed the incipient body of what was to be known in 1890, as the West Africa Frontier Force, WAFF, in Jebba, Northern Nigeria. The new unit expanded by absorbing the Northern Nigeria-based elements of the Royal Niger Company, RNC, Constabulary. By the end of 1901, it had incorporated all paramilitary units in the other British dependencies into its command, thus fully meriting its designation “WAFF”.The establishment of West Africa Frontier Force, WAFF, led to the merger of all units into regiment in each of the dependencies. The merger in Nigeria produced the Northern Nigerian Regiment and Southern Nigerian Regiment.
The First commanders of the Southern Regiments of WAFF were Lt CHP Carter (1899-1901) and Col J Wilcox (1900-1909) respectively. The two regiments were later used for expeditions during the annexation of Nigeria by Lord Lugard between 1901 and 1903.With the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914, the unification of the Northern and Southern Regiments came into being and this witnessed the birth of the Nigerian Regiments. The Army went on to play great roles in the unity of this country. Its greatest challenge came in 1967 when the then Col Odumegwu Ojukwu announced the secession of the former Eastern Region as Republic of Biafra-from the Nigerian Federation .The Army had to play a great role to ensure that the entity called Nigeria remains intact by successfully prosecuting a three-year Civil War. The Army has been involved in quelling a number of revolts and riots in the country since then, all in its bid to ensure the oneness of the heterogeneous nation. On international scene, the rest of the world had at one time or the other demanded for the services of the country’s army for peace-keeping roles. It had played major roles in ensuring peace in West Africa-in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Mali, among others. It had been part of the United Nations keeping forces in Lebanon, former Yugoslavia, Congo, Angola, Sudan, Rwanda, Somalia, etc. In all, the Army deserve a pride of place in the annals of the nation, for it has no doubt proved as the greatest catalyst in the unity and stability of this great nation in its a century and half existence .