By Peace Udugba -The daily torch media
Former presidential adviser, Babafemi Ojudu, has blamed systemic corruption within Nigeria’s military and defence structure for the growing number of casualties on the frontlines, including the recent deaths of senior officers in the fight against insurgency.
In a Facebook post on Monday titled “When Generals Fall: The Price of Corruption on the Frontlines,” Ojudu said the loss of two generals within a six-month period points to deeper institutional failures rather than the normal risks associated with warfare.
“In less than six months, Nigeria has lost two generals on the battlefield—cut down in operations against what should, by all conventional reckoning, be a ragtag insurgent force,” he wrote. “These are not just casualties of war. They are symptoms of a deeper, more troubling reality.”
According to him, many of the fatalities have occurred under suspicious circumstances, particularly ambushes that suggest systemic weaknesses in military operations. He pointed to cases involving malfunctioning equipment, failed communication systems, and possible internal sabotage.
“Too often, these deaths occur in ambushes—situations that suggest not just tactical misfortune, but systemic failure,” Ojudu stated.
The former lawmaker argued that the root cause of these failures lies in entrenched corruption across the military hierarchy. “The answer, uncomfortable as it may be, can be summed up in one word: corruption,” he declared.
Drawing from his experience as a member of the Senate Committee on Defence between 2011 and 2015, Ojudu recounted his visits to the frontlines during the Boko Haram insurgency, where he witnessed alarming conditions faced by troops.
“I saw armoured tanks that were not truly armoured—machines that offered appearance without protection. Bulletproof vests that proof no bullet,” he said. “I saw soldiers going into battle in bathroom slippers, not out of indiscipline, but out of sheer neglect.”
He further revealed that many soldiers were poorly fed, overworked, and left in combat zones for extended periods without rotation, leading to exhaustion and low morale. According to him, some troops survived on minimal daily rations while confronting heavily armed insurgents.
Ojudu also highlighted welfare challenges affecting personnel, including irregular payment of allowances and the neglect of soldiers’ families. These issues, he said, further weaken morale among troops already facing life-threatening conditions.
On military leadership, Ojudu warned against politicised promotions, noting that ethnicity and religion have increasingly influenced career advancement within the armed forces.
“In a professional military, promotions should be based on merit, courage, and competence. But where ethnicity and religion begin to influence advancement, the foundation of professionalism is weakened,” he said.
He also expressed concern over reports that some senior officers are preoccupied with personal business interests rather than operational effectiveness.
“A military leadership distracted by personal accumulation cannot effectively lead men into battle,” he added.
The former senator further criticised the defence administration framework, alleging misallocation of resources and corruption within oversight institutions. He noted that excessive spending on administrative infrastructure at the expense of weapons, intelligence, and training sends the wrong signal.
“Corruption in the military goes beyond financial misconduct,” Ojudu stressed. “It affects procurement, logistics, intelligence, and troop welfare.”
He warned that such systemic failures ultimately give insurgents an advantage on the battlefield.
“In such a system, the insurgent gains an advantage without necessarily being stronger. He benefits from our weaknesses,” he noted.
Calling for urgent reforms, Ojudu emphasised the need for accountability, transparent procurement processes, merit-based promotions, and improved welfare for military personnel.
“We cannot win the war against insurgency if we continue to lose the war against corruption,” he said.
He concluded that many of the losses recorded in the ongoing conflict are avoidable, urging authorities to act decisively.
“Until then, we will continue to count our losses—and the most painful truth of all will remain this: many of those losses are avoidable,” Ojudu added.
