The House of Representatives, on  Tuesday, July 14, agreed to investigate the alleged mass resignation of 365 soldiers from the Nigerian Army.

Reports attributed the massive resignations to loss of morale, unimproved allowances, and mass casualties in the hands of Boko Haram Terrorists. 

However, the Nigerian Army on July 12, responded via its official twitter handle, saying the report is “a malicious intent to discredit the efforts of the Nigerian Army.”

According to the lawmakers, the aftermath of the development will worsen the security threats in the country.

The motion, which was raised by the Chief Whip, Mohammed Monguno and supported by Deputy Whip, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu; and Deputy Minority Leader, Toby Okechukwu, was adopted by the house during the Tuesday plenary.

It was entitled, ‘Need to Investigate the Purported Voluntary Resignation of Over 365 Soldiers from the Nigerian Army’.

Adopting the motion, the House mandated its Committee on Army to “investigate these allegations and report back in one week”.

Speaking on the motion, Monguno noted the security and defence roles played by the Nigeria Army, saying it is the largest component of the Nigerian Armed Forces with a staff strength of about 200,000 soldiers.

The Chief Whip recalled that on June 22, a lance corporal in the Nigerian Army, Martin Idakpeni, released a video on social media, condemning the attitude of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai, towards the attacks and killings of innocent Nigerians and soldiers.

Monguno said, “The House is aware that on several occasions Nigerian soldiers have disobeyed orders from superior officers in protest against poor welfare arrangements and alleged embezzlement of allowances due them by their superiors. There have been cases of mutiny resulting in sporadic shooting and attempt lynching of senior officers.

Read Also: TWO NIGERIANS ARRESTED IN GHANA FOR KIDNAP AND HUMAN TRAFICKING 

“Recently, Major General Olusegun Adeniyi, Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Nigeria‘s counter-terrorism headquarters, was removed for complaining about inferior military wares and poor equipment of troops, while briefing the Chief of Army Staff from combat zone after successfully repelling an attack from Boko Haram insurgents.

“The House is concerned that not too long ago, the General Officer Commanding, 7 Division, of the Nigeria Army in Maimalari, Major General Victor Ezegwu, escaped being lynched by rampaging soldiers for leaving them with neither food nor water while fighting in the northeastern part of the country for two days.

“The House is further concerned that on the 3rd of July 2020, via a (a memo with) Reference Number NA/COAS/001, 356 soldiers, which is a battalion, serving in the North-East and other theatres of operations, wrote to the Chief of Army Staff, asking for voluntary retirement from the force and citing loss of interest as reasons for their retirement.”