The Nigerian Army has arraigned one brigadier-general and 14 other senior officers over various offenses committed in the north eastern part of the country.
The Army court-martial began Monday night at the 9th Brigade Headquarters of the Nigerian Army, Ikeja, in Lagos State.
The officer were alleged to have committed the offences while being deployed to lead various units in the battle to dislodge Boko Haram.
Journalists were prevented from entering the venue. Only soldiers were allowed entry.
Some weeks ago, 54 soldiers from the 111 Special Forces battalion attached to the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army were found guilty of mutiny and sentenced to death by firing squad.
They were accused of disobeying a direct order from their superior officers who ordered them to take part in an operation to dislodge the Boko Haram sect from Delwa, Bulabulin and Damboa in Borno State. They were to recapture the towns from the terrorists.
The soldiers’ defence was that they refused to participate in the operation because the army did not provide them with the required combat and support equipment needed for such operations.
Earlier in the year, 12 soldiers were sentenced to death by firing squad for shooting at a car conveying their commanding officer, Maj. Gen. Ahmed Mohammed in September.
They faced a court martial and were found guilty of incitement and mutiny against the GOC at the army’s 7 Division, Maimalari Barracks in Maiduguri, on May 14.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian military has concluded plans to court-martial about 100 more soldiers in Abuja, following their alleged involvement in offences linked to the fight against the Boko Haram sect.
The soldiers were reportedly transported from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, to Abuja where they are to be arraigned before the General Court Martial.
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