Kaduna Multiple Blasts: Boko Haram Hits The Heart Of Nigerian Military By Shagari Sumner Sambo
February 7, 2012 - 18:02
By Shagari Sumner Sambo
The 1 Division Army headquarters, Kaduna is the home of the former West Africa Frontier Force, WAFF set up by the British to help mobilize Nigerians and other West Africans to help it fight against Germany in the first and second world wars.
After successfully fighting for the British in several countries like Burma, India, Congo etc, Nigerian soldiers returned home and in preparation for independence, the regiment was transformed to a Nigerian Army Brigade.
1 Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army thus became the first army nbrigade or unit in Nigeria and it is often at the heart of army operations in the country with its GOC always being in the lead among all others.
Also, the Nigerian Airforce Base, Kaduna is the premier military flying school and air force base in Nigeria from where all others emerged across the country.
In military circles, Kaduna State is regarded as the Heart of the Armed Forces because no military personnel becomes a soldier, airforce or naval recruit or officer without serving in the tens of military
schools located in the state.
Kaduna state alone hosts the following military institutions: Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Nigeria Defence Academy, Nigeria Army School of Military Police, Nigeria Army Depot, Nigeria Airforce
Training school(s), Airforce Training Command, 1 Division headquarrters of Nigeria Army, Nigeria Navy Flagship House, Nigeria Military School, Nigeria Army Peacekeeping Centre, Infantry Corps Centre, Warrant Officers Academy and the Counter Terrorism Training Centre.
The attacks on military institutions in Kaduna State by the Boko Haram islamic sect were really meant to hurt the central operations of the military institution and have therefore tarnished the image of the
Nigerian military.
While the multiple bomb blasts that went off at the 1 Div Gate, Airforce Base and Kawo flyover all in Kaduna were successful as a result of the bombers wearing military uniform, nevertheless the
military must be commended for shooting some of the suicide bombers dead and capturing others.
While reacting to the incident, the Nigeria Army Headquarters in Abuja through its Spokeman, Brigadier General Rafael Isa claims only one person died in the blasts, that is the suicide bomber.
To prevent the proliferation of army uniforms worn by insurgents, militants and civillians for criminal purposes, Brig. Gen. Rafael Isa said the army will soon effect changes in the use of uniforms by its
personnel.
But the image of the military is also eroding fastly. The cordoning off of the Kaduna blast sites from the media view and restraining journalists from reporting the incident fully is a blight on the image of the military as the people deserve to know what actually happened.
As the motive and intensity of these suicide attacks continue to confound military tacticians, nevertheless the Boko Haram commanders may be popping champagne in their hideouts now for inflicting a huge
damage on the image of the Nigerian military and digging a huge hole on its heart and homebase, Kaduna.
If there is any time to act against these Boko Haram terrorists, the time is now as the military has always served as the last guardian of Nigerian unity!
After successfully fighting for the British in several countries like Burma, India, Congo etc, Nigerian soldiers returned home and in preparation for independence, the regiment was transformed to a Nigerian Army Brigade.
1 Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army thus became the first army nbrigade or unit in Nigeria and it is often at the heart of army operations in the country with its GOC always being in the lead among all others.
Also, the Nigerian Airforce Base, Kaduna is the premier military flying school and air force base in Nigeria from where all others emerged across the country.
In military circles, Kaduna State is regarded as the Heart of the Armed Forces because no military personnel becomes a soldier, airforce or naval recruit or officer without serving in the tens of military
schools located in the state.
Kaduna state alone hosts the following military institutions: Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Nigeria Defence Academy, Nigeria Army School of Military Police, Nigeria Army Depot, Nigeria Airforce
Training school(s), Airforce Training Command, 1 Division headquarrters of Nigeria Army, Nigeria Navy Flagship House, Nigeria Military School, Nigeria Army Peacekeeping Centre, Infantry Corps Centre, Warrant Officers Academy and the Counter Terrorism Training Centre.
The attacks on military institutions in Kaduna State by the Boko Haram islamic sect were really meant to hurt the central operations of the military institution and have therefore tarnished the image of the
Nigerian military.
While the multiple bomb blasts that went off at the 1 Div Gate, Airforce Base and Kawo flyover all in Kaduna were successful as a result of the bombers wearing military uniform, nevertheless the
military must be commended for shooting some of the suicide bombers dead and capturing others.
While reacting to the incident, the Nigeria Army Headquarters in Abuja through its Spokeman, Brigadier General Rafael Isa claims only one person died in the blasts, that is the suicide bomber.
To prevent the proliferation of army uniforms worn by insurgents, militants and civillians for criminal purposes, Brig. Gen. Rafael Isa said the army will soon effect changes in the use of uniforms by its
personnel.
But the image of the military is also eroding fastly. The cordoning off of the Kaduna blast sites from the media view and restraining journalists from reporting the incident fully is a blight on the image of the military as the people deserve to know what actually happened.
As the motive and intensity of these suicide attacks continue to confound military tacticians, nevertheless the Boko Haram commanders may be popping champagne in their hideouts now for inflicting a huge
damage on the image of the Nigerian military and digging a huge hole on its heart and homebase, Kaduna.
If there is any time to act against these Boko Haram terrorists, the time is now as the military has always served as the last guardian of Nigerian unity!
--
Toyin Falola
Department of History
The University of Texas at Austin
1 University Station
Austin, TX 78712-0220
USA
512 475 7224
512 475 7222 (fax)
http://www.toyinfalola.com/
www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa
http://groups.google.com/group/yorubaaffairs
http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Department of History
The University of Texas at Austin
1 University Station
Austin, TX 78712-0220
USA
512 475 7224
512 475 7222 (fax)
http://www.toyinfalola.com/
www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa
http://groups.google.com/group/yorubaaffairs
http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
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