FG Sends Food To Troops In Mali

Govt rushes food to suffering Nigerian troop in Mali as Army General
threatens to arrest PREMIUM TIMES reporter
The Federal government has today hurried food to Nigerian troop in
Mali twenty-four hours after thisnewspaper reported that the 873-man
contingent were being poorly fed and had not been paid allowances in
the last three months.
Defence sources in Abuja and Lagos told PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday that
the defence headquarters was terribly embarrassed by the report and
immediately ordered that food be flown to the troop, which is in Mali
as part of the Africa-ledInternational Support Mission to Mali
(AFISMA) to fight Islamic insurgents.
"I can confirm to you that several bags of rice and palm oil were
flown to Mali today," one of our sources said. "I'm also told by
colleagues in charge that more food will be taken there in the
following days."
Our source however said the soldiers' three-month arrears of
allowances had not been settled.
"Most of the soldiers are broke,"the source said. "Some of them have
been calling home asking colleagues and family members to send them
money."
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has threatened to arrest a PREMIUM TIMES
reporter who has worked on a series of articles on thehardship our
soldiers are facing in Mali.
The reporter had telephoned commanding officer, Colonel T. E Gagariga,
in Mali to get his reaction to the story published on Tuesday.
But shortly after his call to Colonel Gagariga, a certain Major
General Ugor telephoned him to say he must disclose his sources for
the series of stories he had done on the troop.
"He said I should disclose my sources to him and that he would arrest
me if I failed to do so," said reporter Nicholas Ibekwe. "Of course, I
refused. And I'm not sure what his plans are at the moment."
PREMIUM TIMES had reported Tuesday that therewas no respite in sight
for soldiers who have suffered untold hardship and total neglect since
their arrival in Mali.
The report said the 873-man contingent was being poorly fed and owed
three-month allowances.
"They are struggling to remain in Mali," a defence source had said.
"They are not being fed good food. They have been eating plainboiled
spaghetti twice daily without condiments."
But when contacted, the commander of the 333 Artillery Regiment,
codenamed NIBATT 1, said claims of hardship and low morale by troop
were untrue.
"All that is pure lie," Col. Gagariga said. "We are doing our very
best in everycircumstance. My soldiers are of high morale."
PREMIUM TIMES had four months ago exclusively reported the abysmal
condition of the troops and the lack of morale caused by the absence
of logistics and basic provisions. But defence authorities denied,
saying the soldiers were well taken care of.