and the Nigerian Security Council to look into their cases and recall
them, having not been properly discharged from the army.
Some of the dismissed soldiers who spoke to newsmen in Asaba, the
Delta State capital on Thursday, said that since 1979, about 10,000
soldiers have been irregularly dismissed from service without any
benefit at all.
The ex-soldiers said the process of their summary removal was unjust
and they want it reviewed.
They recalled that the process of recalling them had actually been
started when Air Marshal Paul Dike was the Chief of Defence Staff, and
Lt. Gen. Danbazzau was the Chief of Army Staff. But the exercise
stopped soon after they retired from service seven years ago.
Those who were lucky to be recalled then, the ex-soldiers said, were
being made to attend refresher courses at the School of Infantry, Jaji
and posted to their respective units.
Part of a letter of appeal signed by some of the ex-soldiers said, "We
are appealing to the Nigerian Security Council to look into our
affairs as a matter of urgency and temper justice with mercy and
recall us back to the service or discharge us accordingly, as we have
nothing doing to help our family.
"Some of us have undergone several training in the Nigerian School of
Artillery, Kachia, Kaduna state and acquired unquantifiable knowledge
during these trainings."
The appeal letter was signed by BDR Onyeayana Okafor (79NA/9257), CPL
Raphael Iyama (79NA/3370), L/BDR Michael Olisakaomam (79NA/18909),
L/CPL Emovre Eugene, L/CPL Sani Musa (79NA/8537), L/CPL Thomas Odu
(79NA/9619), PTE Bright Akpoghenta (79NA/30858), PTE Olusola Ogundipe
(95NA/39/2347), L/CPL Zakarya (79NA/72792) and PTE David Rojowa
Bernard (79NA/19358) among others.
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