Nigeria, June 26 -- Nigeria is at war! Make no mistake about it. The nation has become a sprawling killing field irrigated by the blood of compatriots. And it appears as if the armed forces are overwhelmed. War induces trauma in a number of ways. The fighting troops faced with the stark reality of death before a maniacal opponent could buckle and collapse even without the latter firing a shot. Soldiers are human and they dread mortality. Soldiers are the first victims of trauma in war situations. The thought of going to the battlefront and of not returning is enough to undo the most gallant of men. And when a war becomes intractable, the fighters think of options, some of which could be ridiculous.

At such a point the fighter, no matter ...