The attack on Nigeria’s foremost military university, the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) by blood-thirsty marauders killing two military officers and kidnapping of another has attracted condemnation by Nigerians.
Those killed during the raid carried out early Tuesday were Lieutenant Commodore Awolor Wulah and Flight Lieutenant Commodore Okoronkwo, while Major Stephen Datong was kidnapped.
Spokesman for the Academy, Maj. Bashir Jajira, who confirmed that the incident in a statement entitled ‘Security breach of Nigerian Defence Academy architecture’ Jajira said: “The security architecture of the Nigerian Defence Academy was compromised early this morning by unknown gunmen, who gained access into the residential area within the Academy in Afaka. During the unfortunate incident, we lost two personnel and one was abducted.
“The Academy, in collaboration with the 1Division Nigerian Army and Air Training Command, as well as other security agencies in Kaduna State, has since commenced pursuit of the unknown gunmen within the general area, with a view to tracking them and rescue the abducted personnel.
“The NDA community and Cadets are safe in the Academy. We assure the general public that this unknown gunmen would soon be apprehended and the abducted personnel rescued.” Sic.
Piqued by the development, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), said it was unthinkable that street bandits would invade and desecrate a military institution of such high national and international repute, outwit the security system in the academy, kill officers and take one away to an unknown destination.
In a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Emmanuel Yawe, the forum said: “The ACF, first and foremost commemorates with the families of those, who lost their lives during today’s (Tuesday) attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy. These gallant men have paid the supreme price for Nigeria, their motherland. We hope their sacrifices are not in vain.
“The Forum is praying that the abducted officer will be rescued and the criminals, who abducted him, brought to book.
“The NDA is a proud monument of the efforts of the first generation of northerners, who fought hard to bring development to the north; the likes of Muhammadu Ribadu, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Sir Ahmadu Bello, who brought the Institution to Kaduna.
“They did not bring it here for our generation to hand it over to bandits or whatever we call them. This is an institution that is not only a pride of the north but a pride of Nigeria. Many African countries train their military officers here.
“It is really sad that ordinary street bandits will invade a military institution of such high national and international repute, outwit the security system and men there, kill officers and take one away to an unknown destination.
“The NDA is a proud reminder of the achievements of our fathers,” he said, wondering if the present generation of northerners would seat and watch as the legacies were destroyed.
“We of the ACF have said it again and again that there is everything seriously wrong with the management of our security. The other day a Nigerian Air Force fighter aircraft was shot down by the so-called bandits.
“Today, the factory where all Nigerian military officers are produced has been invaded and desecrated. What else do we need to show that our national security system is running on reverse gear?”
In its reaction, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said Nigerians had lost hope in the ability of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration to combat terrorism.
In a statement by its national publicity secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said security situation had deteriorated so much that suspected bandits now attack military formations.
“Bandits and terrorists are now freely ravaging our communities in Kano, Kaduna, Kogi, Benue, Zamfara, Adamwa, Taraba, Borno, Yobe, Imo and other states of the federation, including Mr. President’s home state, Katsina, where the governor, Aminu Bello Masari, has now asked victims of terror attacks to defend themselves.
“It is distressing that having lost hope in the capacity and commitment of the President Buhari-led APC administration to protect their citizens, state governments are now sending vehicles to the University of Jos, Plateau state, to evacuate their citizens,” PDP said.
For its part, the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) through its Senior Elders’ Forum, raised the alarm that bandits may overrun Aso Rock, if proactive steps were not taken to safeguard the Presidential Villa and the entire country.
Former national president of YCE, Col. Dansaaki Agbede (retd), who spoke with journalists in Ibadan, Oyo State, said the invasion was unprecedented in the history of the Nigerian military.
He stated that that the attack signified that “chicken is coming home to roost”
“All our calls and cries for proactive actions against insecurity have been confirmed by this worrisome invasion. It is very worrisome that bandits could have the audacity to attack military academy and kill officers. This has never happened in the history of the military that bandits could have the effrontery to attack military academy.
“This is too disgraceful and it is just confirming what we have been saying about the fifth columnist. We have seen why we should not allow those Boko Haram insurgents into the military. It is like putting fire on our thatched roof.
“It is time to look up and gather elders together to do something about this issue. It is dangerous to leave governance of 200 million people in the hands of one man. To say that we have a Major-General as our Commander-in-Chief and this is happening is worrisome.
“Just like we have been crying, these bandits are everywhere. We should stop dancing around for politics. It is disgusting. We really have problems and we should not wait until they overrun Aso Rock. We still appeal to the Federal Government to gather people together to address this issue.”
In its reaction, the Coalition of Northern Elders for Peace and Development (CNEPD), called for the sack of the national security adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd
It also sought an in-depth review of the entire security architecture of the country, stressing that the entire security chiefs must be blamed.
In a statement signed by its national coordinator, Mr. Zana Goni, the group said: “The the deteriorating security situation is a sign that Monguno, who manages the nation’s security, is not on top of his game”, the statement stated, criticising stakeholders in the region for their alleged “long silence in the face of unbearable criminal acts by armed herdsmen and insecurity across the country ‘thereby giving a bad image of the region.
“We find it once more expedient to comment on the worsening security situation in the country, especially, the latest attack on a military formation, the Nigerian Defence Academy, which is the institution, where future military leaders are trained.
“The fact that a fortified military institution could be so easily invaded by armed militias without resistance has left us with the conclusion that no part of this country and no citizen, no matter his or her status, is safe again.
“Without mincing words, we wish to attribute this ugly development to intelligence failure and gaps in the capacity of our armed forces. We wish to strongly say here that the attack is a slap on the Nigeria intelligence community and the armed forces.
“The retention of the National Security Adviser, General Babagana Monguno, at the time the president listened to the voice of reason and replaced service chiefs, may contribute to the continuously deteriorating security situation in the country.
“As Northern elders, we have found it very important to call on President Buhari to remove the national security adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd), whose office and responsibilities are critical to the achievement of comprehensive security all over the country but hasn’t used the high esteem of his office in any productive ways since his appointment as NSA.
“The reason for this call is not farfetched. We believe that Maj. Gen. Monguno was part of the gross failure associated with the tenure of the former security chiefs and his continued presence in office will make the success Buhari intended to achieve with the changes very difficult, if not completely impossible.”
Speaking through its national publicity secretary, Mr. Alex Ogbonna, Ohanaeze Ndigbo described the country’s security as scaring to any average Nigeria and called on the government to sit up because the development is threat to the corporate existence of the country.
“It is a national calamity for this kind of attack to happen to the nation’s defence academy because the armed forces are the symbol of national unity and last line of the country’s defence.
“Government has to come clean because it is getting worrisome. If the government will allow the bandits to get this far, it means that something is wrong somewhere. To attack a defence academy where military offices are being trained is going too far. Government has to rise up and bomb the bandits out of existence,” Ogbonna said.
