Soldier bags 7-year jail sentence for killing civilian in Borno.

A general court martial (GCM) of the Nigerian Army, has sentenced Hassan Adamu, a lance corporal, to seven years imprisonment, after finding him guilty of manslaughter.

Olusegun Adeniyi, a brigadier general, announced the sentence at a sitting in Maiduguri, Borno state capital, on Wednesday.

Adamu, a driver, was said to have shot one Umar Alka to death, following a disagreement at the Monday market in Maiduguri.

The tragic incident was said to have occurred on December 23, 2015.

Witnesses, who testified in the proceedings, told the tribunal that the deceased died on the spot after Adamu shot him.

Abubakar Abacha, father of the Alka, told the tribunal that he received a distress call that a soldier killed his son on the said date.

Abacha added that he arrived the scene and found corpse of his son, with deep hole passing through his chest.

He said the deceased lived a good life.

In his ruling, Adeniyi said Adamu had been found guilty.

“Having found you guilty of the offence of manslaughter and having listened to the plea by the defence counsel, looking at the punishment provided by sections 105 and 119 of the armed forces Act cap A20, laws of the federation, the court, hereby, sentences you to seven years imprisonment,” Adeniyi held.

“The sentence is, however, subject to confirmation by the confirmation authority as provided by Section 152 sub-paragraph 1A of the Armed Forces Act.”

 

Source: The Cable

Gov. Shettima Meets Civilian JTF, ?Announces Welfare Package For Members In Borno

Following recent attacks by Boko Haram insurgents in some parts of Borno State, Governor Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday, held a meeting with the youth volunteers involved in counter insurgency operations popularly known as “Civilian JTF” during which he appreciated their gallant efforts and unveiled welfare packages for them.

The meeting held at the Multipurpose hall of the Government House in Maiduguri.

The governor held closed door discussions with leaders of the volunteer group focusing on enhancing community policing.

At an open session with majority of the volunteers, Governor Shettima paid glowing tributes to them for sacrificing their lives towards complimenting the efforts of armed forces to fight for the restoration of peace in the state.

He said no amount of welfare package can equal the sacrifices being made by the volunteers especially given the fact that some of them had laid their lives for Borno State.

The governor said despite its meager resource, the Borno state Government would expend whatever it takes to ensure that the volunteers were properly paid, equipped and highly motivated.

He announced a bonus of N20 million naira to the volunteers while directing that any backlog of ?allowances be paid immediately.

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Nigerian Army Identifies Soldiers who Tortured Civilian in Nasarawa

Authorities of the Nigerian Army on Wednesday, said it had identified the soldiers who violated the rights of a member of the public in Mararaba, Nasarawa state, on Aug. 8.

Brig.-Gen. Yusuf Shalangwa, Director, Legal Services, Nigerian Army, made this known in Abuja when the army appeared before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that on Aug. 8, a photograph of a man lying in the mud, with some soldiers standing over him was seen on the front page of a newspaper.

Consequently, NHRC carried out preliminary investigation and gave the army an ultimatum to
identify and produce the soldiers involved in the act.

“We have identified the soldiers involved in the violation of the rights of the man and we
hope to take appropriate actions. The report of our investigations will be made available to the commission. We will give everyone a fair hearing,” Shalangwa said.

He assured that no one found culpable in the torture of the civilian would be spared after.

In his remarks, Executive Secretary of NHRC, Prof. Bem Angwe, emphasised the need for the commission and the military to chart a way in ensuring that rights of citizens were not violated by soldiers or other persons.

“We will have about 300 soldiers for training on human rights; we are sure that after the training the misconception on the issue of human rights violations will be brought to an end,’’ he said.

The executive secretary said the commission was informed that the victim had been attacked by angry youths in Mararaba before the soldiers intervened.

Nigerian Army Vows To Punish Soldiers Caught On Camera Maltreating Civilian

The Nigerian Army has vowed to punish its personnel who were caught on camera Saturday mistreating civilians they said are suspected armed robbers.

A photograph of the incident was published in the Monday edition of Abuja-based Daily Trust newspaper.

The shocking photograph was made public at a time the Nigerian military is battling to extricate itself from allegations of gross human rights abuses.

The spokesperson for the Army, Sani Usman, a colonel, said the action of the soldiers caught maltreating civilians on Saturday has done incalculable damage to the image of the service, and is at variance with military ethics and professionalism.

Mr. Usman said the perpetrators had been identified and would be punished accordingly.

The Army spokesperson however criticised Daily Trust over what it called “poor and worrisome editorial judgement by giving this misdemeanour prominence in their paper”.

“Alerting appropriate Nigerian Army authorities would have been a better option that will be met with prompt response,” Mr. Sani said.

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