Badeh “I was head of a military that lacked relevant equipment, motivation”

Nigeria’s former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh has said that the military under him lacked the right equipment to fightBoko Haram.

Alex Badeh (Total Media Koncepts)

Badeh also said that the insurgents had informants within the military who leaked information on operations to them leading to many soldiers being ambushed and killed.

Former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh hands over to successor, Major General Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin on July 21, 2015. (Twitter)

The former military chief made the comments on Thursday, July 30, 2015, while handing over to successor, Major-GeneralAbayomi Gabriel Olonishakin in Abuja.

Former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh hands over to successor, Major General Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin on July 21, 2015. (Twitter)

Badeh said:

“The task of coordinating the military and other security agencies in the fight against the insurgents is perhaps the most complex and challenging assignment I have had in my over 38 years in service.”

Former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh hands over to successor, Major General Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin on July 21, 2015. (Twitter)

“For the first time, I was head of a military that lacked the relevant equipment and motivation to fight an enemy that was invisible and embedded with the local populace.”

Former Chief Of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh And His Wife Mary Being Pulled Out In Abuja On Thursday (NAN-Photo)

“Furthermore, the activities of fifth columnists in the military and other security agencies who leaked operational plans and other sensitive military information to the terrorist, combined to make the fight against the insurgents particularly difficult.”

Abubakar Shekau in the middle, with other lieutenants. (ewn)

“The activities of these unpatriotic members of the military not only blunted the effectiveness of the fight, but also led to the needless deaths of numerous officers and men who unwittingly fell into ambushes prepared by terrorists who had advance warnings of the approach of such troops.”

President Muhammadu Buhari (Getty)

Badeh was relieved of his duties by President Muhammadu Buhari on July 13.