Nigerian soldiers deployed in Operation Fansan Yamma, North West, have expressed frustration over the military’s failure to rotate them, citing a lack of funds.
The troops, who were initially assigned a six-month deployment, have now spent two years and six months on the frontlines without being allowed to return home, SaharaReporters can report.
Despite being overdue for redeployment, the soldiers say they are repeatedly told there are no funds to facilitate their return. Many of them have not seen their families in years, leading to exhaustion and demoralisation.
“About the ill-treatment, we are facing here in Operation Fansan Yamma North West. And the most important thing is that we are due for rotation from the operation but up till now, they keep telling us no funds to change us back and see our family,” one of the affected soldiers lamented.
“For two years and six months, we have been in this operation. Initially, we came to the operation to spend six months. On reaching the operation ground, the late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, turned it into two years but now we are overdue without any hope of being rotated.”
Operation Fansan Yamma, North West comprises Katsina and Zamfara states.
The soldiers who spoke to SaharaReporters described their prolonged stay as unbearable, saying their families are desperate to reunite with them.
“That is what always makes us demoralised and exhausted for over two years in one place. Our families are eager to see us; they refuse to rotate us,” a soldier said.
They also accused the military of double standards, pointing out that troops sent to Maiduguri, Borno state after them had already been replaced.
“Meanwhile there are soldiers who went to Maiduguri after we had gone to the operation for almost three months. They have changed them but they are not saying anything about our matter.”
The troops also admitted that their morale had collapsed after years without proper rest or support.
“Our fighting spirits have died, we are just fighting to survive,” a soldier stated.
They criticised the military’s failure to honour leave policies, noting that while they are entitled to a two-week pass every three months, they have waited for two years and six months without being granted.
“The pass is supposed to be after 90 days that’s informed of leave in a civil organisation. After every three months, we are entitled to two weeks pass, that’s 14 days. But we have spent two years and six months,” the soldier added.
The soldiers are now pleading with authorities to address their plight, urging them to provide the necessary funds to rotate them after two years and six months in the operation.
