54 Nigerian Soldiers Sentenced To Death By Firing Squad, 5 Released

Thursday, 18 December 2014

54 Nigerian Soldiers Sentenced To Death By Firing Squad, 5 Released

12 soldiers sentenced to death over mutiny 360nobs...

According to publication, 54 of the 59 soldiers standing trial for mutiny and conspiracy to commit mutiny have bagged the death sentence.

They are to face the firing squad having been found guilty of the offences.

The General Court Martial, which has been sitting since October, however, discharged and acquitted five of the soldiers.

Chairman of the GCM, Major General Musa Yusuf while delivering the judgment at the Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja Wednesday night, said the soldiers reserved the right to appeal the verdict at a higher authority.

The 59 soldiers were among the troops engaged in counter insurgency operations in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, where the Boko Haram insurgents have taken over a number of Nigerian towns and villages in Northeastern Nigeria.

The soldiers were accused of refusing lawful orders to fight, an offence the military authorities described as conspiracy and mutiny.

The first batch of soldiers that were tried for mutiny also bagged the death sentence for shooting at their commanding officer. The verdict is being appealed by their lawyers.

All the 59 soldiers had pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them by the General Court Martial during the trial.