A distressing report has revealed that Major Shamsudeen Sani, an officer serving with the Nigerian Army in the North-East, has allegedly been detained for several months and denied access to his two wives and children.
According to the report, the officer’s alleged offence was ordering his troops to withdraw from the battlefield during an intense confrontation with fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Sources familiar with the situation said Major Sani had earlier requested urgent reinforcement and additional equipment when the clash with the insurgents escalated. However, the requested support reportedly did not arrive while the troops were still engaged in the battle.
Faced with what was described as overwhelming enemy firepower and fearing heavy casualties among his men, the major allegedly instructed the soldiers under his command to retreat from the position in order to save lives.
Following the incident, he was reportedly arrested and has since remained in detention for months, with claims that he has not been allowed to see his family members during the period.
The development has raised concerns among some observers about the welfare of officers operating in the North-East and the challenges faced by troops engaged in ongoing counter-insurgency operations.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from the Nigerian military authorities regarding the detention.
