Breaking news: Nigerian Army sacks another 227 soldiers

Reports reaching www.odogwublog.com indicates that the Nigerian Army has sacked another 227 soldiers for their activities in the Boko Haram saga.

As the battle between Nigerian troops and Boko Haram insurgents continue to rage on, the Nigerian Army  is not relenting on it ores to instill discipline into the force as it had again yesterday dismissed 227 soldiers.

The soldiers were allegedly dismissed over their refusal to fight Boko Haram when the insurgents attacked and overrun Mubi in October last year.

Four other soldiers had been dismissed at the headquarters of the Nigerian Army Records in Lokoja on Monday, over similar offences.

The soldiers were among over 3000 military personnel, comprising other ranks and officers that have been penciled down for the sack after the fall of Mubi.

All the units were part of operation Zaman Lafiya, which was a task force that was formed to check insurgents’ activities in Adamawa.

The troops were handed down the penalty after a summary trial that span two days at the headquarters of 3 Division in Jos.

Daily Trust gathered that the Army headquarters has directed that officers and soldiers in five of its battalions be dismissed for failing to stop the insurgents from capturing Mubi or retaking it from them.

Military sources said the affected units include 234 Battalion, Mubi, 116 Battalion, Task Force Mike, Army Headquarters Team A and 213 Battalion.

One of the soldiers who were dismissed in Jos yesterday told Daily Trust that the military had charged them with disobedience to a standing order and failure to perform military duty.

They accused us of refusing to fight to recapture Mubi from Boko Haram. We first appeared before Lt Col G Gambo at the headquarters of the 3 Div Garrison on yesterday (Monday) and they rearranged us today (Tuesday) and he read out the verdict to us,” he said.

The dismissed soldier said they were not given the opportunity to defend themselves during the trial. “What they only did was to call out everybody’s name and number and ask you to confirm, after that they would tell you that you are dismissed,” he said.

“How could they accuse us of refusing to fight when we have actually fought and the Boko Haram overwhelmed us?” the soldier asked.

About 147 private soldiers and many other senior non-commissioned officers were affected, he said, adding that some of the men were from units like Nigeria Defence Academy, 3 Brigade Kano, Nigerian Military School, Zaria and Yola, among other military formations across the country.

Another military personnel who was dismissed in Lokoja Monday, said they were accused of allowing Mubi to fall into the hands of Boko Haram. “They froze my account and stopped my salary for four months before dismissing me yesterday. All the allegations against us were false because we didn’t refuse to fight. We fought and lost many of our colleagues in Mubi and we had to give up because the Boko Haram were better equipped than us. Why were they not happy that we are still alive? I’m still surprised seeing myself alive after the encounter,” he said. 

A military personnel disclosed that over 60 officers and about 3000 soldiers would be affected by the mass dismissal, adding that the officers were from the rank of Major downward. He explained that five Lt Cols that were commanding the battalions were taken away and locked up in guardroom in Abuja.

“They wanted to dismiss us in Jos, but they considered the likely consequences of the action considering our large number, so they broke the battalions up and asked soldiers to return to their mother units where the Army headquarters later sent signals ordering them to be fired.

“Last week, we received information that they were dismissing us and you can see what has happened today,” he said.

He said they were also accused of failing to join in the operation to capture Bazza, Tudun Wada and Vimtim from the Boko Haram.

Military sources however debunked the report,  “It is not true,” Army spokesman Brigadier General Olajide Olaleye told Daily Trust reporter on phone regarding the dismissal of the soldiers for alleged offenses in the campaign against insurgents in north eastern.

It would be recalled that in late December the Nigerian Army  dismissed 203 soldiers for allegedly disobeying  orders.

Elombah