Boko Haram: Soldiers relocated to another division for trial

Some mutinous soldiers in the Army’s 7 Division have been relocated to another division for trial, it was learnt yesterday.

Boko Haram

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.

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.

Also yesterday, it was learnt that the Police Training Academy near Gwoza in Borno State had been taken over by Boko Haram.

A witness was quoted by the BBC as saying that he heard shots after the insurgents arrived in three armoured vehicles and on dozens of motorcycles.

A police spokesman confirmed the attack and a senior security source said it had not been possible to communicate with the academy since Wednesday, the BBC reported.

The Liman Kara College is near Gwoza town, which has been seized by Boko Haram since the beginning of this month.

Thousands have been killed across the Northeast since Boko Haram launched its violent campaign for an Islamic state in 2009.

The militants have stepped up their attacks after being pushed out of their bases in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, and have been targeting towns and villages in deadly raids.

In recent weeks, the militants have been moving from their rural camps and taking over substantial towns.

The militants have been in control of Gwoza, which had a population of about 50,000, since the beginning of August.

They apparently retreated about 100km (62 miles) to Gwoza after losing control of Damboa – both large towns in Borno State.

But attempts by the security forces to retake Gwoza have failed – and a group of about 40 soldiers is now refusing to fight, saying they are too poorly equipped to take on the heavily armed insurgents

The residents of Liman Kara, which is about 15km from Gwoza, told the BBC Hausa service that police recruits were seen running from the college after the attack began at dawn on Wednesday.

He said he was unable to confirm if there were casualties as he had joined other residents and fled the town to nearby hills.

A security official who did not want to be named told the BBC that the militants had “entered the school” but said he could not confirm they were in control of the college as it had not been possible to contact it.

A similar attack on the college was repelled by officers undergoing training there two weeks ago.

BBC Hausa’s Mahmud Lalo said the Liman Kara academy is one of only two riot police training colleges in Nigeria and the militants are likely to find weapons there.

Several hundred militants were involved in the raid on the college, which there were reportedly more than 290 police trainees at the time.

Viewed 1 times
Boko Haram: Soldiers relocated to another division for trial