Boko Haram: Soldiers for trial over ‘refusal’ to fight

Some mutinous soldiers in the Army’s 7 Division have been relocated to another division for trial, it was learnt yesterday.
The military took the step to avoid the trial constituting a distraction to the division in its fight against the Boko Haram insurgency.
It was also learnt that the relocation became necessary to avoid “spiral effect” on the morale of other soldiers.
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But a source revealed that Buni Yadi in Yobe State is constantly exposed to attacks from Boko Haram because of the “thin presence” of troops in the area as a result of manpower challenge.
The troops deployed in the area are only on patrol duties.
Although the military is silent on the number of the affected soldiers, the figure is said to be between 18 and 50.
Some of the soldiers were involved in shooting at a car carrying the former General Officer Commanding the 7 Division in Maiduguri, Borno State, Maj.-Gen. Ahmadu Mohammed.
Others were also said to have violated the Army Act on issues bordering on redeployment to flashpoints in some parts of Borno State.
A military source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The mutinous soldiers have been taken away from Maiduguri to some divisions where court martial had been on.
 “We also do not want the trial to distract the focus of the 7 Division in curtailing Boko Haram. It can evoke emotion and generate more reactions. Already, you can see the wives of soldiers protesting against deployment of their spouses to flashpoints.”
The source was however not forthcoming on where the soldiers will be tried.
Another source cited security reasons for the shifting of the trial from Maiduguri to other divisions.
The source said: “Actually, based on security reasons, it will not be safe to put the soldiers on trial in Maiduguri. They do not want it to have contagious effects.
“And the good thing about court martial is that its jurisdiction covers all parts of the country. The soldiers can be tried anywhere.”
Also yesterday, it was revealed that Bunu Yadi in Yobe State is constantly exposed to attacks from Boko Haram because of the “thin presence” of troops in the area as a result of manpower challenge.
“There is no doubt that the Army has thin presence in Bunu Yadi because troops are being deployed in many parts of the country.
“We have only been involved in patrols in Bunu Yadi area. We have said it that we have manpower challenge; it is not easy to train a soldier.
“We will dislodge the insurgents from the area soon. This is not the first time we have done it,” a military source said.