In response to public outcry, the Nigerian Army has established a Court Martial to address the prolonged detention of 142 soldiers in Maiduguri, Borno State.Â
Major General A. C. Adetoba will lead the court, supported by a diverse panel of senior officers, as disclosed by a senior military source on Tuesday.
The panel includes two Brigadier Generals, Brig. Gen. A.Y Yakubu from HQ 36 AB and Brig. Gen. Abubakar from NAHFC, as well as Navy Commodore P.P. Nimmyel from NAHFC, Col G.E. Archibong from DSA, and seven others.
The prosecution team, headed by Lt. Col. W.F David, will present the cases against the soldiers, with trials set to commence on July 8, 2024, at the Command Guest House in Maiduguri. This initiative aims to ensure a fair and expeditious trial process.
The 142 soldiers have been incarcerated for over 10 months without trial, facing allegations including the theft of arms and ammunition or losing them to insurgents.
Reports indicate that some of these soldiers had been deployed to the war front for over six years without leave or “PASS,” and many had not seen their families for the last three years.
Among the detainees, about 20 soldiers have been recommended for release to their units due to the minor nature of their cases, according to military lawyers.
It was also revealed that the military police have been collecting about N87,000 monthly for the feeding and other allowances of most of the detained soldiers.
The detained soldiers, some of whom have been on the war front since 2017 or 2018, have not been rotated or replaced with fresh troops.
This has resulted in severe war fatigue, depression, and weariness among the soldiers. A senior military officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed these issues and highlighted the lack of welfare and support for the troops.
“Some soldiers reported that their welfare and feeding arrangements depended solely on their garrison or brigade commanders.”
While some commanders are focused on promotions, others prioritize feeding the soldiers but neglect other welfare issues.
“Consequently, many soldiers have not seen their families for over two and a half years, leading to emotional distress and the breakdown of family relationships.”
Close relatives of the detained soldiers have expressed their concerns, stating, “Our brothers and husbands have been serving in the North East since early 2017 or 2018, without being rotated or allowed to visit their families.
As we speak, we have not seen them for over two and a half or three years. We feel emotionally disturbed. Some of them have lost their wives to other men, including fellow soldiers.”
