The Nigerian Army’s Communication and Management of Combat-Related Deaths in the War against Boko Haram

Abstract

ABSTRACT Thousands of Nigerian soldiers have lost their lives in the military operations against Boko Haram over the past decade. This article examines the way these deaths were communicated to the widows of the deceased soldiers. Data for this paper was gathered from in-depth interviews with military personnel, widows, and secondary sources. The findings showed non-adherence to due process and professionalism in the death communication process. Bureaucratic bottlenecks and combat realities also affected the casualty notification procedure. These show the inadequacy of the current military communication process concerning the sensitivities of wartime deaths. Accordingly, this article suggests ways of improving the communication of combat deaths in ways that reflect their heroic essence.