Mutiny: 12 Nigerian soldiers sentenced to death…to be executed by firing squad

Twelve Nigerian soldiers were in the early hours of Tuesday sentenced to death for mutiny. They were the soldiers found guilty of the May 13, 2014 incident in which they attempted to kill their erstwhile General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Major General Ahmed Mohammed at the Maimalari Barracks, Maiduguri in the course of the ongoing war against Boko Haram in the North East.

The soldiers on that day had shot at the General’s official vehicle but he escaped because his car was bullet proof.

The revolt happened after soldiers were ordered to drive at night on a road frequently attacked by Boko Haram. The soldiers initially refused, saying it was a suicide mission. They eventually followed orders, and were ambushed.

The convoy was driving from Chibok, the northeastern town from which more than 270 girls and women were abducted from a school in April.

The bodies of the dead were brought to Maiduguri, leading to a demand by colleagues to speak to the 7th Division's commanding officer, Major General Mohammed. Witnesses said they threw stones and shot at him.

They are: Cpl. Jasper Braidolor, David Musa, Friday Onu, Yusuf Shuaibu, Emmanuel Igomu, Andrew Ngbede, Nurudeen Ahmed, Ifeanyi Alukhagbe, Alao Samuel, Amadi Chukwudi, Alan Linus and Stephen Clement.

They are to be executed by firing squad

They were charged with six count of criminal conspiracy to commit mutiny, disobeying lawful orders and various acts said to be inimical to the military service. They were also found the soldiers guilty of insubordinate behaviour, use of abusive language and leveling false accusation against their superior officers.

The nine-member all military Court Martial also found the soldiers guilty of preventing the movement of some of their injured colleagues to hospital and obstructing evacuation of their dead ones who were killed in ambush on their way from an operation in Chibok, Borno State.

Another soldier, Jeremiah Ichocho, who was found guilty of Absence Without Official Leave (AWOL) and was sentenced to two years without labour.

Five were discharged and acquitted, having been found not guilty by the court.

The court, headed by Brig. Gen. CC Okonkwo, said the sentences were subject to confirmation by higher authorities. He added that the soldiers had the right to plead not guilty to most of the charges as well as appealing the judgment.

 Other members of the court are: Col. TS Nurseman, Col. TO Olowomeye, Col. IG Lassa, Lt.Col. JK Feboke, Lt. Col. CR Nnebeife, Major I Yusuf, Major TA Yakubu and Major AE Martins. Lt. Col. AA Audu and Lt. Col. U Ukpe served as prosecutors.