A military court in Maiduguri has handed down heavy punishments to four soldiers found guilty of aiding terrorists and dealing in arms.
The court-martial, convened by Brigadier General Ugochukwu Unachukwu, Acting GOC of the 7 Division and Sector 1 Operation Hadin Kai, tried two senior non-commissioned officers and two others.
They faced multiple charges, including theft of weapons, illegal sale of ammunition, and aiding Boko Haram fighters.
Delivering judgment, the Court President, Brigadier General Mohammed Abdullahi, said three soldiers—Sgt. Raphael Ameh, Sgt. Ejiga Musa, and LCpl. Patrick Ocheje were sentenced to life imprisonment.
Evidence before the court showed that Sgt. Ameh, an armourer with 7 Division Garrison, worked with the late LCpl. Ogbogo Isaac and policemen from the 30 PMF to smuggle weapons hidden in bags of beans to Enugu and Ebonyi. Investigators traced more than 100 suspicious bank transactions to him between 2022 and 2024.
Sgt. Ejiga Musa was found guilty of selling AK-47 rifles and large quantities of ammunition. Records showed he collected over ₦500,000. He was arrested after attempting to sell more weapons to a police officer.
Cpl. Rufus sold 40 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition to a policeman, while LCpl. Ocheje was linked to supplying militias during a communal clash. The court also found that he had stolen an AK-47 rifle and traded ammunition meant for the frontlines.
The military panel ruled that their actions directly endangered fellow troops and undermined national security. “These bad eggs,” Brig.-Gen. Abdullahi declared, “betrayed the trust, discipline, and honour expected of soldiers.”
However, the Nigerian Army has restated its zero tolerance for arms racketeering or aiding the enemy in any form.
Recall that in August, a soldier was dismissed and jailed after being caught supplying equipment to the Boko Haram sect in Borno.
