With the spate of emotional outbursts by soldiers on the frontline, all eyes are on military authorities to set the tone for a safer psychological atmosphere for the troops securing the country from internal and external aggressors.
POLSCOPE By Eddy Odivwri
Last Friday, the nation marked the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, a day set aside to remember and celebrate men and women of the armed forces who paid the supreme price in their effort to defend their fatherland. Usually, they are those felled by the bullets of their enemies or those who suffered death while tackling the enemies of state.
But on what occasion do we remember and celebrate men of the armed forces who were killed by their fellow armed men?
On August 6, 2019, some soldiers from the 93 Battalion, Takum, Taraba State, shot and killed three policemen and two civilians at Ibi, in Taraba State. The Policemen had come to arrest a notorious Kidnapper who had kidnapped and killed many people before then.
The court-martial sitting in Nigeria has sentenced a soldier, Trooper Azunna Maduabuchi to death by firing squad for killing the adjutant of his unit, Lieutenant Babakaka Ngorgi.
Trooper Maduabuchi was arraigned for murder after shooting Lieutenant Ngorgi in July 2020 at close range in Bama Local Government of Borno State for refusing to grant him a welfare pass.
He was on Tuesday sentenced to death by firing squad after he was found guilty at the court session held at the Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri.
Some other four soldiers were arraigned for manslaughter and sentenced to various years of imprisonment.
One of the soldiers Sergeant Sani Ishaya was sentenced to four years, Bidemi Fabiyi sentenced to two years while Private Musa Bala and Private Abdulraheed Adamu were sentenced to one-year imprisonment each.
Some other soldiers were arraigned for manslaughter and sentenced to various years of imprisonment.
Some of the soldiers facing the Court-Martial during the court session on Tuesday, January 12, 2020.
One of the soldiers Sergeant Sani Ishaya was sentenced to four years, Bidemi Fabiyi sentenced to two years while Private Musa Bala and Private Abdulraheed Adamu were sentenced to one-year imprisonment each.
Another soldier Mohammed Kudu who is accused of shooting a 12-year-old boy at a wedding is also sentenced to three years imprisonment.
Lance Corporal Aja Emmanuel arraigned for a lone charge of assault has been de-ranked and now a private soldier.