Boko Haram: Court sentences 54 soldiers to death by firing squad

The convicted soldiers, consisting of two Corporals, nine Lance Corporals and 49 Privates, are to die by firing squad for refusing to fight against Boko Haram: A court martial in Abuja, on Wednesday, December 17, sentenced 54 soldiers to death after finding them guilty of mutiny. The convicted soldiers, consisting of two Corporals, nine Lance Corporals and 49 Privates, are to die by firing squad for refusing to fight against Boko Haram. The soldiers were charged with conspiring to commit mutiny against the authorities of the 7 Division on August 4, at the Mulai Primary School camp, opposite AIT Maiduguri, Borno State. According to the prosecutor, J.E. Nwosu, the accused soldiers had refused to join the 111 Special Forces Battalion troops, commanded by Lt Col Timothy Opurum for an operation to recapture Delwa, Bulabulin and Damboa in Borno State from Boko Haram. Four other soldiers were acquitted and cleared of all charges. A court martial had earlier sentenced 12 soldiers to death for mutiny after they attacked the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Maimalari Military Cantonment in Maiduguri on May 13 and 14.