One Special Court Martial wey dey under Nigerian Army for Maiduguri don sentence three soldiers to life imprisonment and give another one 15 years for prison, sake of say dem dey sell army guns and bullets to criminals and militias wey dey disturb peace for different parts of di country.

Di court, wey Brigadier General Ugochukwu Unachukwu — acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division and Commander of Sector 1, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) — convene, hold di trial for Officers’ Mess inside Theatre Command Headquarters for Maiduguri.

Brigadier General Mohammed Abdullahi, wey be di president of di court martial, deliver di judgement. E sentence:

• Sergeant Raphael Ameh,

• Sergeant Ejiga Musa, and

• Lance Corporal Patrick Ocheje to life imprisonment,

While Corporal Omitoye Rufus go spend 15 years for prison.

According to di court, dem find di soldiers guilty of different serious offences like stealing ammunition, illegal dealing in arms, and even aiding enemies — all na offences wey Armed Forces Act no dey joke with.

Dem talk say Ameh, wey be armourer for 7 Division Garrison, conspire with one of him colleagues wey don die, to thief plenty bullets from di army armoury. Dem even dey work with some police officers to hide di weapons inside bags of beans, carry am go Enugu and Ebonyi to go sell give criminals.

Di court also hear say from July 2022 to June 2024, Ameh and him people run over 100 transactions wey bank records show, all linked to selling arms.

Sergeant Musa, wey serve as armourer for 195 Battalion, join hand with Ocheje and some police officers to sell AK-47 and large amounts of bullets. Records show say e don collect over ₦500,000 before dem catch am red-handed when e dey try sell more bullets.

Omitoye Rufus, another soldier, sell 40 rounds of 7.62mm bullets give police officer. Meanwhile, Ocheje, wey dey deployed for Forward Operating Base Molai, divert bullets during communal crisis after police officer beg am. E even thief one AK-47 rifle from him fellow soldier.

Brigadier General Abdullahi say all of dem actions na serious threat to military operations and national security, and e amount to “aiding the enemy.”

 

E describe di convicted soldiers as “bad eggs” wey disgrace di uniform and betray di trust and discipline wey army expect from their personnel — especially during this kain time wey Nigeria still dey fight insurgency for Northeast.

 

Abdullahi con warn say Nigerian Army no go ever tolerate any form of illegal arms business — whether na big or small. E say:

 

“Anybody wey sell arms to enemy or criminals go face full punishment — no matter who you be.”

 

Dis judgment don send strong signal say Nigerian Army dey serious to clean di system and make sure say no soldier dey use uniform cover evil.