Every national incident usually culminates as material waiting to be used by historians.
Such incidents could be either good or bad news. Interestingly, the country Nigeria has many of such records in abundance. In fact, one of such discoveries is the recent finding that the country can beat its chest before the international community that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was able to research into the personal, educational and professional life of his service chiefs before pencilling their names down for the specific role he assigned to each of them.
The Commander-in-Chief, while scrutinising their background, might have sighted or heard that they believe in the “Truth”, which probably could be their moral strength.
Truth is sacrosanct and, according to Dr. Martha Nibley Beck, an American author, life coach, speaker and sociologist who specializes in helping individuals and groups achieve greater levels of personal and professional success, “No matter how difficult and painful it may be, nothing sounds as good to the soul as the truth.”
Indeed, truth should be inculcated into our politicians and all security agents. Apart from corruption, the absence of truth in governance continues to derail our democracy and presents the country in bad light. Unfortunately, truth is no longer considered a virtue among youths and leaders. No wonder some of those in authourity care little neither do they shiver when they issue press statements on incidents and they deliberately change the narrative by lying.
These days, educational institutions lie to the public in their bid to cover up the truth. The same lying trait has permeated every institution and organisation. Come to think of it, what if the Nigerian Army had issued a statement absolving itself of the recent aerial bombing that killed scores of villagers in Kaduna State in error, wrongly assuming they were terrorists, and placed the blame on ‘fleeing terrorist-bandits’? Or adding that they had exploded their drone bomb on the innocent villagers just to create public panic?
Many would have believed such a narrative. After all, many of such tales had been tabled before the public and we gullibly swallowed them. Thank goodness we have a truthful leader like Chief of Army Staff General Taoreed Lagbaja who did not mince words but openly accepted responsibility when he said, “The Army did it.” That is the hallmark of a true leader. A leader who is bold and courageous to acknowledge his faults and shortcomings.
He did not only say the truth, he also showed a face full of human kindness by visiting the families of the deasesed, even those in the hospital, and assured them of compensation. These are the type of leaders Nigeria is yearning for.
Even so, the country is gradually breeding new species of human beings who would not join the crowd to lie but would stand and always say the truth, no matter the situation or circumstance. The holy scripture says, “Truth shall set you free.” So, it was consoling when Gen. Lagbaja owned up over the recent “massacre” of 85 civilians in Kaduna. Report says 85 innocent residents of Tudun Biri mistaken to be terrorists in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State were killed in a Nigerian Army drone attack during Muslim celebrantions.
Before the news could enrage members of the public sequel to a press statement by the Nigerian Air Force denying responsibility, the army did not waste any time in accepting blame and telling the whole truth of what happened.
Despite telling the truth, one should not shy away from the fact that the killing could be described as sheer merciless collateral damage of human lives. Among the questions begging for answers are, who were the personnel that conducted the entire operation? Who drafted them into the squad or team that was operating the drone? What training did they acquire before being posted to operate the drone?
Added to these questions is: how credible was the information or intelligence initially downloaded from the drone before the bomb attack? Who analysed the intelligence report before the approval? Was the surveillance report verified before the final approval signal?
How come the drone’s pictorial data for action was misinterpreted?
In 2013, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, one of the most visionary police leaders, introduced the use of drones to the Nigeria Police system. Uunfortunately, the National Security Adviser at the time frustrated the noble idea.
This writer was among the few observers of the first drone that was launched on an operational testing flight from the premises of the police headquarters in Abuja where the drone took off, being controlled by its operator. The drone ascended into the sky, heading towards the Maraba axis of Abuja, as the drone was collating pictorial information, those of us at the headquarters were monitoring every movement and action of the drone on a mini screen, where every movement was monitored until it was commanded back to base.
Minutes after, the drone descended and landed before us. All these activities were monitored on the laptop as the white man controlled it with the control pad. On sighting the drone, there was noticeable excitement and happiness written on the faces of the few officers that were present with the IGP.
Had the police acquired the drone, most of the security headache and criminality being perpetrated across the country would have been a thing of the past. Maybe the internal security of the nation would have been well taken care of by the police without the intervention of the military.
Today, the truth that Lagbaja told Nigerians and his visits to sympathize with those hospitalized and his promised help to assuage the pains of losing loved ones, all these helped to ameliorate the situation.
Telling the truth most often helps to douse tension and attract prompt forgiveness.
The army has done a lot for the country; nonetheless, those responsible for this error should not go unsanctioned so that others can learn a lesson from this incident.
—————————-
SECURITY HINT
Are you a regular traveller by air or road? Always ensure you snap a photograph of your luggage to avoid pilfering and planting of illicit drugs and exchange of luggage.