Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
The Nigerian Army has court martial two soldiers of Operation Lafiya Dole to ten years imprisonment for alleged violation of human rights in the Northeast. President of the General Court Martial (GCM) 7 Division, Nigeria of Army, Brig-Gen. Olusegun Adesina while delivering judgement on Wednesday at Maimalari Cantonment, Officers, Mess said the action of the soldiers was unlawful and against the ethics of the Armed Forces. The two soldiers were charged for abduction and forceful collection of money from innocent victims amounting to N1 million. “The accuse were standing trial for three count charges include abduction of Alhaji Hassan on the November 19, 2017 at his residents in Ruwan Zafi area of Maiduguri metropolis to an unknown location, forceful demanded and collection of N1 million Naira after he was threatened as BHTs sponsor, he said. The soldiers, according to him, confessed to the committed offense. The soldiers further narrated: “We evaded the victim’s (Alhaji Hassan) house with a Honda 98 model and dragged the victim out and forcefully took him to Railway Area of Maiduguri, where he was threatened and tagged as Boko Haram sponsor and subsequently demanded N3m. “However, the victim begged and agreed to pay a million naira and then, he took the accused soldiers to his shop on Babban Layi, Maiduguri; where he gave them N1m as promised.” In his judgment, Adesina said;” having considered all pleadings by defense counsel, on 1st count charge, you Sergeant Aliyu Hassan and Corporal Nasiru Bello are hereby sentenced to 5 years in prison for abduction. “On count 2 charges that your rank from Sergeant has reduced to Corporal and also your rank from Corporal to private for illegal behavior on uniform. For the third count charge for extortion of N1 million from victims, you are hereby sentenced to 5 years in prison respectively and service of term shall runs concurrently.” The affected soldiers are Sgt. Aliyu Hassan and Corporal Nasiru Bello. It was learnt that the General Court Martial in Maiduguri had imprisoned a number of soldiers for various offences for over a year.
