The military has released many of the over 142 soldiers fighting insurgency in Maiduguri, Borno State, who were detained for a long period without trial for alleged sundry offences.
Some of the soldiers, who had been held for periods ranging from 18 months to five years without trial, were earlier placed on “open arrests” and subsequently released.
However, the latest release followed the recent visit by the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, Major General A.G.L Haruna and Theatre Commander, Major General W. Shaibu, alongside the Deputy Director, Legal Services, DDLS, 7 Division, Major V.L Williams, to their detention centres.
Following an outcry over the detention of 142 soldiers without trial, the Nigerian military established a court-martial, led by Major General A. C. Adetoba, to expedite the trials of the soldiers who have been detained without trial.
The court-martial panel comprised several high-ranking officials, including Major General A. C. Adetoba (AHQ DAT) as the head of the panel; two Brigadier Generals: Brig. Gen A. Y. Yakubu (HQ 36 AB), Brig. Gen. Abubakar (NAHFC); Navy Commodore P. P. Nimmyel (NAHFC); Col G.E. Archibong (DSA) and seven others.
The prosecution team was led by Lt. Col. W.F David (7 Div Provost Gp) and two other officers. The trial began at the Command Guest House, Maiduguri on July 8, 2024.
But not all the soldiers were tried, hence their recent release.
The alleged offences of the detained soldiers included stealing of arms and ammunition or losing them to insurgents.
SaharaReporters learned that some of the detained soldiers had been on the front lines for over six years without leave or permission (PASS) to visit their families in the last three years.
In addition to being denied PASS, some of these soldiers had been on the front lines for over six years without being rotated or replaced with fresh personnel.
Among the detainees are soldiers who, according to military lawyers, had been recommended for release to their units due to the minor nature of their cases.
Sources said that some of the soldiers were posted to the front lines between 2017 and 2018 but were neither rotated nor transferred to other areas for fresh hands to move in.
The Nigerian military has been engaged in a protracted counter-insurgency campaign against Boko Haram since 2009. The conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths, displacements, and human rights abuses.
A senior military officer who spoke to SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity said some of the soldiers are weary even as most are suffering from war fatigue, crack or depression, thus taking a significant toll on their mental health, family life, and overall well-being.
Some of the soldiers who were taken to the front lines between mid-2017 and early January 2018, also said that their welfare or feeding arrangements depended solely on the garrison or brigade commanders.
“Occasionally, soldiers on front lines are given “pass” to visit their families but some of us have not seen our wives and children in the last two and a half years,” one of the soldiers said, adding that some of their wives had abandoned them for other men including their colleagues in the barracks.
“Some garrison or brigade commanders are not interested in troops’ welfare. However, some are more interested in promotions while some only feed soldiers well and not care about promotion or other welfare issues.
“Some commanders are very bad; both garrison and brigade commanders. They are not interested in paying their troops any benefits or promoting them. We have experienced all these types of denials,” one of them said.
Some of the troops in Bama, Borno State, said they need more hands to fight the insurgents.
“Sometimes, they attack our units of five or 11 soldiers, using RPG and AGL bombs…while we use LMGs. If you abandon any weapon while escaping, you will be detained for a very long time, tried or court-martialed,” one of them said.
Meanwhile, a close relation of one of the soldiers also complained, saying, “Our brothers and husbands have been serving in the North East since early 2017 or 2018, without being changed or even allowed to visit their families at all.
“As we speak, we have not seen them for over two years and a half or three years. We learnt that some are feeling depressed.
“As their relations, we feel bad that these soldiers are unable to see their wives or children in the last three or four years. We feel emotionally disturbed. Some of them have lost their wives to other men or even fellow soldiers.”
Attempts by SaharaReporters to get the reaction of Army spokesman, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, over the issue were not successful.
SaharaReporters.
