“We want to send a strong message to would-be mutineers”
armyFacts emerging from the Nigerian Army Headquarters, Abuja, yesterday indicated that the soldiers who fired at the vehicle of the General Officer Commanding, the 7 Division in Maiduguri, Major-Gen. Ahmed Abdullahi, will be court-martialed this weekend.
Nigerian Pilot Saturday learnt that a preliminary investigation had been concluded and the military high command was set to try the soldiers.
The investigation has already established the identity of the soldiers involved, and the extent of their involvement in the alleged mutiny.
If they are found guilty of the alleged offences, they may be dismissed and jailed, while those with little involvement may be demoted.
It was also learnt that soldiers have been complaining about poor welfare, low morale, poor strategy, poor equipment and poor leadership, and that the Wednesday’s incident followed a forced overnight trip that some soldiers were made to take, which led to 12 deaths in the hands of Boko Haram who had laid an ambush for the troops.
The former GOC had instituted an inquiry himself, but he was overruled from Abuja and a new inquiry was set up instead.
Military sources had claimed that there was a growing “disloyalty” and “indiscipline” on the Borno war front, and therefore such insubordination must be checked to prevent a breakdown of order.
“We want to send a strong message to would-be mutineers,” the source said.
The attacked GOC, Gen. Abdullahi, escaped unhurt in the incident and has since been redeployed for his own safety, because of the hostility of the soldiers.
The new GOC is Brigadier M.Y Ibrahim, who becomes the fourth commander since the creation of the 7 Division last year.
Major-General Obida Ethan was first, before Major-Gen. Unsaid Bindawa and then Mohammed.
Meanwhile, nine serving generals in the Nigerian Army and other senior military officers are now under investigation for their alleged role in the sale of arms to members of the Boko Haram sect.
They have also been fingered in the movement of weapons and army armouries in some northern states.
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