The Rector, Nigeria-Korean Friendship Institute of Vocational and Advanced Technology, Dr. Toyin Oluwatoyin, has said the military generals should be applauded and encouraged to contain the complex guerilla warfare plaguing the country.
He made the call following calls for stripping military Generals of their rank and title following their inability to quell the ravaging insurgency in record time.
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Some Nigerians on the X platform had made snide remarks against Generals of the Armed Forces, describing them as businessmen and alleging they were responsible for the lingering terrorism and insurgency.
The denigration of the generals followed claims by a deserted Lance Corporal of the Nigerian Army who had become a social media sensation following outlandish allegations against Generals and senior officers of the army.
Several viral videos of the soldier accused some generals, whose names and pictures he mentioned, of aiding/sponsoring terrorism, corruption, sabotage and sympathy towards criminal herders.
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These allegations have been dismissed by the Army which insisted the Lance Corporal was a coward who went AWOL, adding that he would be dealt in line with military disciplinary procedures whenever he was caught.
Dr. Oluwatoyin while speaking to reporters in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, urged Nigerians to give maximum support to the Armed Forces to enable them combat insurgency.
According to him, they possessed all the credentials and training needed for the task, adding that what was needed was the people’s support and political will to enable the military to function optimally.
Dr. Oluwatoyin condemned the wave of criticism targeted at the generals, frowning at remarks depicting Nigerian generals as people decorated without winning any battle.
He said the perception of some Nigerians that these Generals did not deserve their ranks because they have not been able to end the insurgency was uncalled for because the war being fought was asymmetric and required all hands on deck.
According to him, becoming a General in the Nigerian Army is not the product of mere bureaucracy or favouritism.
“It is a journey defined by strict military codes, rigorous evaluation, field experience, professional courses, and merit-based promotions,” said the Rector.
He added that no officer is promoted to the rank of General without meeting an array of highly disciplined standards, enforced by the Nigerian Armed Forces. The rank is earned through decades of resilience, operational command, and integrity under pressure,” he said.
Nigerians, Oluwatoyin said, were yet to acknowledge that these generals were battle-hardened veterans who had led missions at home and abroad, such as ECOMOG peace operations in Liberia, Sierra Leone, United Nations peacekeeping missions in Sudan, Congo, Mali, and Somalia, as well as various multinational efforts across the African continent
He explained that these engagements were full-scale military operations requiring tactical brilliance, courage and emotional endurance, which the soldiers had given account of themselves, receiving applause from across the globe.
Continuing, Oluwatoyin remarked that asymmetric warfare was different from conventional war, adding that the enemies strike from the shadows using surprise attacks, improvised explosives and other deadly weapons, including suicide bombings.
“Guerrilla warfare is among the most difficult to combat, especially when it is fueled by ideological extremism, porous borders, and transnational terrorism. Unlike traditional wars with defined front lines, guerrilla warfare demands constant vigilance, adaptability, and an in-depth understanding of civilian dynamics, terrain, and intelligence.
“Nigeria’s geopolitical position compounds the challenge. Our borders stretch over thousands of kilometres, much of which remains under-patrolled due to logistical and structural limitations.
“These vulnerable entry points have been exploited by foreign fighters, arms smugglers, and terrorists, escalating the internal security crisis
“It is in response to this that the Chief of Defence Staff recently proposed fencing and fortifying parts of Nigeria’s borders – a strategic step toward curbing external threats and enhancing national security”, he added.
Oluwatoyin reminded Nigerians that the country boasts of professional and capable military institutions on the continent, manned by battle-tested men and women who continue to serve under arduous conditions- political constraints, limited resources, and evolving threats to carry the burden of national stability, with dignity and resolve.
“Let it be stated: Nigeria’s Generals are not generals by accident or convenience. They are the product of sacrifice, international exposure, military excellence, and years of operational command. Instead of casting aspersions, we must recognise and support their role in safeguarding the sovereignty and unity of our nation.
“Nigeria’s Generals Are Not Made by Accident – They Earned Their Stars. It will not be fair to disparage these Generals in a fiat. The Nigerian military – Army, Navy, and Air Force – is among the best trained in the world.
“Our officers are subjected to elite drills, command courses, and international combat simulations. They have not just studied war; they have lived it, from the harsh deserts of the Sahel to the dense jungles of the Congo.
“To reduce their careers to a mere question of whether they have ‘fought a war” is to misunderstand the nature of modern warfare and to insult a generation of men and women who risk their lives for our peace.
“We must begin to appreciate their sacrifices and not make a caricature of their service. The task before the Nigerian Armed Forces is enormous – from counter-insurgency in the North East to anti-kidnapping operations in the North West, to peacekeeping and civil-military interventions in various parts of the country. Yet they continue to serve with uncommon dedication.
“Nigeria is safer because of them. They are not perfect – no institution is – but they are not frauds or accidental soldiers. They are professionals, tested in fire, and worthy of our respect. Let us hold them accountable, yes – but let us also honour them. They are the wall between chaos and order,” he concluded.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
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