‘Why Minimah became army chief’

Indications emerged on Friday that President’s choice of General Kenneth Minimah, as the new Chief of Army Staff may have been informed by the need to intensify the campaign against the insurgency in the north-eastern part of the country.

Investigations by SUNDAY PUNCH showed that Minimah belonged to fighting corp of the army as an infantry general.

His predecessor, Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, belonged to the engineering corp.

Those close to the new army chief, billed to take over the leadership of the army on Monday, said he was an effective general reputed to be a paratrooper even as a brigadier-general in the army.

A military source, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said the appointment ignited high expectations and anxiety among soldiers who had been worried by Boko Haram attacks on soldiers in Bama and Maiduguri.

The source added that before the emergence of Minimah, the army was bitter as the service felt discouraged by the destruction of military formation and some barracks by the insurgents.

The source stated further that the new army chief was expected to address the issue of the delay in the payment of operational funds to soldiers in the frontline.

It was reported that the delay in the payment of such funds to soldiers was a major source of dampened morale in the army.

The source argued that soldiers and other security operatives were unhappy with the delayed payment of the operational allowances for December.

“I think Boko Haram is one of the major reasons; of course, there is need to address the problem of insecurity in the country.

“There is the belief that with the establishment of the 7th Infantry Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri, the operational funds, which were paid early in the month under the Joint Task Force, were delayed until the appointment of the present GOC.
Punchng