Some soldiers are to face death penalty while others will go to jail for their alleged links to Boko Haram. The soldiers affected are one lieutenant, one warrant officer and 16 others. The General Court Martial has been trying them since July 1 of this year.

Their offences range from communicating with Boko Haram members, cowardly behaviour, murder and manslaughter. They were being tried by the Three Armoured Division as the case fell within its Area of Responsibility (AOR).

Some soldiers are to face death penalty while others will go to jail for their alleged links to Boko Haram. The soldiers affected are one lieutenant, one warrant officer and 16 others. The General Court Martial has been trying them since July 1 of this year.

Their offences range from communicating with Boko Haram members, cowardly behaviour, murder and manslaughter. They were being tried by the Three Armoured Division as the case fell within its Area of Responsibility (AOR).

A source from the military said that those soldiers who were sentenced to death actually deserved the sentence because “for serving soldiers who swore to defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria and Nigerians therein to be found conniving with the enemies of Nigeria (Boko Haram) is a treasonable offence which attracts capital punishment.

“The Boko Haram members do not hide their sinister agenda. They want to destabilise the country. Everybody knows that. For soldiers to now secretly work with them at the expense of the country is treasonable. And it is so treated.”

The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations of the Division, Col. Texas Chukwu, stated that he was preparing a formal speech in this regard, and that this might be made public. The 18 accused soldiers are drawn from the 3rd Armoured Division, Joint Task Force (JTF), otherwise known as Operation Restore Order from Maiduguri and Special Task Force (STF) known as Operation Safe Haven, from Plateau state.

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Soldiers to face death penalty for links with Boko Haram and connivance in Plateau crisis