Breaking News: 54 Nigerian Soldiers Sentenced to Death by Firing Squad

A military court has today condemmed 54 soildiers to death by firing squad after being found guilty of mutiny. Premium times report

The soldiers were convicted today in Abuja on a
two count charge of criminal conspiracy to commit mutiny.

Four other soldiers were acquitted. The
convicted soldiers, mostly soldiers involved in
the fight against the Boko Haram terrorists in
Northeast Nigeria, are to die on stakes, by
firing squad.

The soldiers, attached to the 7 Division,
Nigerian Army in Maiduguri include two
Corporals (Cpl) nine Lance Corporals (LCpl)
and 49 Private soldiers.

The charge sheet said the soldiers conspired
to commit mutiny against the authorities of
the 7 Division on August 4, at the Mulai
Primary School camp, opposite AIT Maiduguri,
Borno State.

The soldiers are the second batch of Nigerian
soldiers condemned to death by Nigerian
Military courts for mutiny.

The trial of the soldiers began on October 15
who allegedly disobeyed orders to join
operations against the extremist group, Boko
Haram. The accused soldiers pleaded not
guilty to the charges.

J.E. Nwosu, the prosecutor, an army Captain, alleged that the accused soldiers had on August 4, in Maiduguri, refused to join the 111 Special Forces Battalion troops,commanded by Timothy Opurum, a Lieutenant Colonel for an operation. Mr. Nwosu said the operation was meant to recapture Delwa, Bulabulin and Damboa in Borno State from the Boko Haram terrorists. According to him, the offence is punishable under Section 52(1) (a) of the Armed Forces Act Cap A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The prosecution called the commander of the
111 Special Forces, Lt.Col. Opurum, as one of
the witnesses.

Mr. Opurum, in his testimony in October, said the Special Forces were tasked to recapture Delwa to clear the way for other battalions to pass through to recapture Babulin and Damboa from the insurgents.
He said he took off for the operation with only four officers and 29 soldiers as "tasked" after majority of the 174 soldiers in the unit refused to join the operation.

The witness said after he took charge of the
Special Forces, he addressed and assured them that they could achieve the task given to them. However, he said the soldiers were "hesitant to partake in the operation" in spite of the assurances.

Under cross examination by Femi Falana, who
represented the accused soldiers, Mr.
Opurum said 47 of the soldiers who initially
refused, later re-joined the forces for another
operation.

Mr. Opurum said the 47 soldiers joined, after
he called for reinforcement, as they came
under attack from terrorists, who out-
numbered them and had superior weapons.