Nigerian Army Pardoned n Reinstated 3,032 Soldiers

The recall of the soldiers came just as the army authorities vowed that the battle against insurgency will be concluded in three months as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Due to the recommendation of the committee instituted by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, to review recent disciplinary cases in the army, especially of soldiers in the defunct Operation Zaman Lafiya, the Nigerian Army has pardoned and reinstated a total of 3,032 soldiers out of the 5,000 that appeared before the committee.

Addressing the media in Abuja, yesterday, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said:  “The reinstated soldiers are those whose offences bothered on cases of discipline, regimentation and justice.

“The soldiers have shown their total readiness to be re-launched into the theatre of combat insurgency and have now commenced a re-training exercise at the Nigerian Army Training Centre, Kontagora, Niger State.

“It must, however, be made clear that not all dismissed soldiers were granted pardon and recalled. Those with criminal cases, for instance, have their sentences upheld.”

He said the re-training of the recalled soldiers was to re-orient and prepare them for the closing stage of the operational aspect of the counter-insurgency operations with more weapons and new leadership.