Premium Times reported
that its sources disclosed that 118 soldiers have been transported from
Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, to face charges in Abuja, a week after 54
soldiers were sentenced to death for refusing to fight Boko Haram.
It is not clear when the
troops will be arraigned before the court martial, the sources said. Unlike
their colleagues who were convicted last Wednesday, the soldiers awaiting trial
are not accused of mutiny.
Army spokesperson,
Olajide Laleye, said he was unaware of the development.
Sources also said that
the soldiers are accused of relatively minor charges including loss or
misplacement of rifles during operations against Boko Haram.
The allegations follow
repeated reports of troops fleeing Boko Haram fighters and abandoning their
weapons for the militants in Borno and Adamawa States.
Boko Haram militants
have flaunted arms they claimed were seized from government forces in several
videos.
The 54 soldiers who were
earlier sentenced to death belonged to the 111 Special Forces battalion
attached to the 7 Division of the army in Maiduguri.
They are to die by
firing squad, the military court ruled last week.
The soldiers were
accused of disobeying a direct order from superior officers to take part in an
operation aimed at dislodging Boko Haram terrorists from Delwa, Bulabulin and
Damboa in Borno State.
The soldiers said they
refused to take part in the operation because the Army did not provide them
with the required combat and support equipment needed for such operations.
Our sources said the
convicted soldiers have been moved to Lagos to await appeal, pardon or
execution.
Also, in September, 12
soldiers were sentenced to death by firing squad for shooting at a car
conveying their commanding officer, Ahmed Mohammed, a Major General.
The attack occurred May
14 at the army’s 7 Division, Maimalari Barracks in Maiduguri, headed at the
time by Mohammed.
Others were also
sentenced to life in jail for criminal conspiracy and attempt to commit murder.
The soldiers revolted
after some of their colleagues were ambushed and killed by Boko Haram
extremists, an attack they blamed their commander for.
Premium Times
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