The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Army

  • Military justice

    “Twelve soldiers were convicted in September 2014 and sentenced to death by a court-martial for demanding weapons when the General Officer Commanding, the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army, visited a military camp in the war zone while 58 others were convicted and sentenced to death in December by another court-martial for demanding weapons to fight the insurgents. Therefore, the number of soldiers who were sentenced to death by the two court-martials is 70 and not 66.”

    That was Lagos activist lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) clarifying the information released by Army spokesman Colonel Sani Usman on December 19 about the number of soldiers whose mutiny-related death sentences were commuted to imprisonment.

    Apart from the confusing detail concerning the number of soldiers involved, more confusing is the decision by the military authorities to impose 10-year jail terms on the previously condemned men despite exonerating evidence.

    Although the outrageous corruption-related narrative emanating from the office of the former National Security Adviser in the Goodluck Jonathan presidency, Sambo Dasuki, is still unfolding, there is already enough information to show that the soldiers being punished do not deserve punishment.

    Those who ought to be punished are the crooks who stole public funds, using the anti-terror war against Boko Haram as a cover. The multi-billion arms scam and the alleged scammers making the news at this time are at the heart of the Jonathan administration’s failure to defeat the Islamist terrorists who have been on the rampage in the country’s Northeast since 2009.

    Apart from the huge number of mortalities linked with the insurgency, and the huge figures of internally displaced persons, the yet-to-be-resolved kidnap of 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, over a year ago, remains a huge open wound on the country’s conscience.

    It was an open secret in the Jonathan presidential era that people in power ironically fuelled the Boko Haram insurgency by fraudulent acts. The anti-terror war became a pro-terror effort because of the weakening of state-capacity by government officials expected to win the war. Under the Jonathan administration, the image of the Nigerian military appeared irredeemable as it battled unimpressively and unconvincingly against terrorism.

    Now the world knows the terror war was kept going and had to be kept going to keep the fraudulent actors going.  So, the mutinous soldiers have been vindicated. Their ultimate vindication would come when they are not made to pay for the sins of others. Or is military justice inflexibly and unfairly different?

  • Army commutes soldiers’ death sentence

    Army commutes soldiers’ death sentence

    The Nigerian Army on Saturday commuted the death sentence handed to 66 soldiers earlier this year to 10 years imprisonment.

    The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said this in a statement on Saturday.

    The 66 out of 72 soldiers tried for mutiny and other charges were sentenced to death by firing squad by military special courts between January and March this year.

    The statement said the cases of other soldiers were being reviewed and would be made public once the reviews are completed.

    The decision to commute the soldiers’ sentence, the statement said, was taken after thorough consideration of petitions by concerned citizens.

    The petitions caused the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, to order a legal review of the cases, it added.

    The statement reads:

    “The soldiers were arraigned on several count charges that include criminal conspiracy, conspiracy to commit mutiny, mutiny, attempt to commit an offence (murder), disobedience to particular orders, insubordinate behaviour and false accusation, among others.

    “They were tried, discharged on some charges but found guilty and convicted on other charges which included mutiny. Out of the number, 66 were found guilty on some of the count charges and sentenced to death, while five were discharged and acquitted and one was given 28 days imprisonment with hard labour.

    “The directive was carried out to examine the merit of each case. It was on the basis of the review and recommendations that the Chief of Army Staff commuted the death sentence of the 66 soldiers to 10 years jail term. The sentences are to run concurrently.”

     

  • Shi’ite Crisis: Kukah calls for peaceful negotiation

    Shi’ite Crisis: Kukah calls for peaceful negotiation

    The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto State, Most Rev. Matthew Kukah has called for calm and peaceful negotiation over the recent clash between the Nigerian Army and members of the Shi’ite Islamic Movement of Nigeria in Zaria.

    The clergy said there was need for the aggrieved members to consider dialogue rather than increase tensions amidst current insecurity bedeviling the nation.

    Kukah made the call at an inaugural forum on Role of Islam and Christianity in Social Transformation in sub-Saharan Africa.

    The event was organized by the Kukah Centre in partnership with the Department of Intercultural Theology, Depaul University, USA.
    He stated that since the country runs a democratic system of government, agitations against the government should be presented responsibly to avoid escalation into crisis.

    Kukah said: “I think what we can do is to condole with the bereaved and also to let Nigerians know that we are in a democracy, people have the right to make their claims but they must make them responsibly.

    “There are processes and channels and I think that these are challenging times for our nation nobody needs all this crisis, those who are agitating have made their point it is now time for us to now develop the capacity for negotiation but government won’t be able to solve the problems if everyone is on the street agitating.”

    Members of the Islamic movement clashed with a convoy of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, last Saturday in Zaria, leading to the death of Shi’ite members. The crisis had since generated reactions from local and international communities especially Iran. About three persons were declared dead aftermath of a
    protest when the shi’ite leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky was
    arrested.

    Speaking on the forum, the clergy said it was targeted to provide a framework for policy makers and other political stakeholders to help address the challenges posed by religion differences in Africa.

    He said the panelists, who were drawn from different countries and institutions of higher learning, are scholars drawn from both the Christians and Muslims community.
    Kukah noted that various crimes have been committed on the premise of religious difference stressing that, “Religion is gradually being held responsible for most of the crisis that is going on in the continent.”

    “We can see from the calibre of scholars all of which are professors, across the country. What we try to do is draw scholars from different backgrounds, Christians and Muslims to deliberate on the future of religion most specifically Christianity and Islam in sub-saharan Africa to deal with the fact that religion is becoming a problem.

    “Religion is gradually being held responsible for most of the crisis that is going on in the continent. Our idea is to see whether we can help provide a blueprint that can help policy makers to figure out the kind of things that can help us very coherently use religion for the growth and development and peace of the country.

    “One of the things we have figured out here is that violence is violence. There is more violence caused by the failure of economics activities than violence ascribed to religion. Neither Islam nor Christianity are the major factors for violence. It is quite possible
    that people stand on religion to make moral claims but those things will be sustainable where there is an intensity of grievances that other people have.” he added.

  • Senate orders investigation of Shi’ite’s clash with Army

    Senate orders investigation of Shi’ite’s clash with Army

    The Senate has ordered an investigation into the immediate causes of the recent clash between the Nigerian Army and the Shi’ite Muslim sect which led to the death of no fewer than nine persons with many others injured.

    The Senate on Wednesday constituted an ad-hoc committee, which was announced by the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, after a one hour closed-door session, just before plenary, to carry out this responsibility.

    According to President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, the ad-hoc committee will consist of the Senate Committees on Defence; Judiciary and Human Rights; and National Security and Intelligence.

    He noted that the ad-hoc committee has been saddled with the responsibilities of investigating all issues surrounding the attacks and advice the Federal Government on the way forward.

  • Video: How Shi’ites Waylaid Army Chief Convoy

    Video: How Shi’ites Waylaid Army Chief Convoy

  • Troops foil plot to bomb IDPs camp in Maiduguri

    Members of the Joint Task Force in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Thursday arrested two suspects – a teenager and an adult apparently primed to bomb a displaced persons camp in the city.

    One of the suspects, according to a statement issued by the Army Spokesman in the area, Col. Sani Usman, is among the senior members of the sect recently declared wanted by the army.

    The statement said, “The vigilant troops of 7 Division, Nigerian Army Garrison Command, providing security service at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp found an 11-year-old boy, Master Usman Modu Tella, a potential suicide bomber and an older suspect close to the Dalori displaced persons’ camp in Maiduguri.

    “The older suspect is number 82 on the poster containing the photographs of 100 most wanted Boko Haram terrorists recently released by the Nigerian Army.

    “Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect was from Bama Town and is among four other children trained for suicide bombing by the Boko Haram terrorists. The three others have already carried out their missions at different locations. The teenager’s job was to do same in the camp sometime in the future.”

     

  • Army refutes report on missing 105 soldiers in Borno

    Army refutes report on missing 105 soldiers in Borno

    The Nigerian Army has denied an online media report that 105 soldiers fighting the Boko Haram insurgents in Borno were missing.

    Maj.-Gen.Yushau Abubakar, the Theater Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, while fielding questions from newsmen in Maiduguri on Thursday, said the report lacked substance.

    “I read the report on social media too, some were even saying that the SO was abducted, but I spoke with him a while ago.

    “It is true that our troops were attacked after we captured Gulumba town in Borno, however, our men have successfully repelled the attack,” he said.

    Abubakar said that the military had consolidated its grip on the town by stationing its troops.

    “Our men are very visible in the area, I do not know of any report about the missing 105 soldiers.

    “I am telling you that our soldiers are standing firm in the area and they are flushing whatever Boko Haram remnants in the area,” he said.

    Abubakar said that he had no details of the report on the situation, as the area was under the command of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF)

  • Pro-Biafra protests: Army warns against treason

    The Nigerian Army on Monday gave Indications it will deploy soldiers to the southeast part of the country to quell the ongoing protests by pro-Biafra groups.

    Although no order has been issued by President Muhammadu Buhari for the deployment of troops, the army said it will not wait for the police to be overwhelmed before performing its supporting duties in internal security.

    The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Major-Gen. Isidore Edet, while reading the army’s Rule of Engagement for internal security operations, warned that if deployed, the military will follow the rules to the letters.

    He dispelled fears of any pro-Biafra protests in Lagos or in the southwest, just as he assured residents of their safety and security from Boko Haram and any other terrorist group.

    “Therefore, the Nigerian Army would like to send an unequivocal warning to all and sundry, more specifically to all those threatening and agitating for the dismemberment of the country, committing treasonable felony and arson, as well as wanton destruction of lives and properties that once deployed, we shall apply the ROE (Rules of Engagement) to the letter.

    “It is, however, hoped that such circumstances would not arise that we should be deployed on such operations, because let nobody make any mistake, within the ambit of the law, we shall apply the ROE to the fullest.”

  • Army clears Boko Haram camp in Borno village

    Army clears Boko Haram camp in Borno village

    The Nigerian Army said that it had cleared a suspected Boko Haram camp in Duwabafi village, Borno.

    This is contained in statement issued by Col. Sani Kukasheka, the Army Acting Director, Public Relations on Monday in Maiduguri.

    “In continuation with the fight against Boko Haram terrorists, on Sunday, troops of 243 Battalion, 5 Brigade Nigerian Army on fighting patrol encountered some suspected elements of the terrorists holed up at a Primary School in Duwabafi village in Borno.”

    The statement stated that the Army killed four suspected terrorists in a heavy gunfire, recovered two Ak-47 rifles four various sizes of solar energy panels, different types of drugs and five motorcycles.

    “There was heavy exchange of gunfire in which the patrol killed four suspected Boko Haram terrorists, recovered two AK-47 rifles, four various sizes of solar energy panels, several types of drugs and five motorcycles,” Kukasheka said.

    It stated that the patrol had returned to base and to further restrategise for more onslaughts on all remaining vestiges of Boko Haram elements within the area.

  • Nigerian Army remains a strong force – COAS

    Nigerian Army remains a strong force – COAS

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai has described the Nigerian Army has as a force to be reckoned with at all times.

    The Army Chief made this assertion when the Republic of Netherlands Defence Attaché to Nigeria, Colonel Eric Adriaan de Landmeter paid him a courtesy visit at the Army Headquarters.

    Thanking the Defence Attaché for the visit, Buratai emphasized that the two countries have been participating in Peace Support Operations for a long time.

    He stated that the Multinational Joint Task Force has commenced operation, adding that troops contributing countries are expected to operate within their territories as well as assuring the Defence Attaché of the Nigerian Army’s determination to end Boko Haram activities soon.

    He further stated that Netherlands is a country with good innovations in many areas and commended them for expressing concern on the current security challenges facing the nation.

    Earlier, the Defence Attaché thanked the COAS for the audience despite short notice and commended the Nigerian Army for their effort in the current fight against insurgency.

    He further stated that his country was interested in what is happening in Nigeria, stressing that the Netherlands have the capacity to offer specialty in many areas in the country especially with the current security challenges facing the country.

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