Nigeria Army employ psychologists over soldiers involved in Boko Haram fight committing suicide

Worried by the disturbing rate of soldiers killing themselves and their colleagues, the Nigerian military authorities have deployed new strategies to mitigate the ugly development, investigations by Sunday PUNCH have revealed.

The Defence Headquarters has, therefore, commenced the deployment of psychologists to the battleground in a bid to reduce the suicides and murders among the troops fighting against Boko Haram in the North-East.

It was learnt that the medical experts had been catering to the emotional, psychological and mental health needs of the soldiers fighting against the insurgents whose activities have led to the loss of many lives and destruction of property in the region.

Multiple sources at the DHQ in Abuja told one of our correspondents that apart from counselling tours by the psychologists to the theatre of operations, which had been made a priority, the medical team now conduct daily ward round to hospitals where soldiers are being treated to see to their mental health.

There have been growing concerns over a spate of suicides among soldiers and troops killing their colleagues and innocent people, a development some have attributed to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

For example, the country was thrown into a deep shock on February 26 when a Corporal attached to the Army Super Camp 15 at Malam Fatori in Borno State went berserk and opened fire on his colleagues, killing four of them before shooting himself.

The soldier, who was said to be having some psychological issues, also injured two other people as he went on a shooting spree.

The acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col Sagir Musa, said, “A corporal of the army serving at the Theatre Command, Operation Lafiya Dole, went berserk in the early hours of Wednesday (February 26) and opened fire, killing four of his colleagues before shooting himself. “Meanwhile, investigation into the case has since been instituted to determine the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident.”

Prior to the incident, a soldier identified as Olodi Blessed, who was said to be on medical leave, having just returned from the battlefield in the North-East, stabbed his wife and son with a knife on January 2. The incident took place in Ede, Osun State.