A retired army general, Ishola Williams, criticized the recent decision by the court martial to condemn 54 soldiers to death.
Williams said that the soldiers had the right to refuse to join counter-terrorism operation without having a proper equipment for the battle. He lamented that scores of men became victims of political games.
“Those playing politics with the lives of these soldiers who were being sent to commit suicide in the name of fatherland and they refused, have to be ashamed. The army’s top hierarchy is covering up its weaknesses by court-martialling these soldiers. The staff from the HQ (defence headquarters) and the generals are to blame.”
The retired military referred to the similar incidents in the global practice adding that “there are no bad soldiers but bad officers”.
“Anywhere in the world a soldier/soldiers is /are allowed to disobey orders which will lead to certain death because of poor officership and inadequate logistics.”
Williams also recalled that in South Africa it is legally allowed by the constitution. He noted that Nigerian soldiers are generally not and will not be mutinous.
“You may wish to speak to CJTF(Commander of the JTF) in Maiduguri to be able to indict these soldiers. In a good court of law the death sentence will be not upheld…It is sad and wicked to be unfair to them. Why were the Court-Martial (CM) held in secret? Even the presidency has not made any statement on this issue because it knows the circumstances in which these soldiers were operating.”
Williams said that the soldiers had the right to refuse to join counter-terrorism operation without having a proper equipment for the battle. He lamented that scores of men became victims of political games.
“Those playing politics with the lives of these soldiers who were being sent to commit suicide in the name of fatherland and they refused, have to be ashamed. The army’s top hierarchy is covering up its weaknesses by court-martialling these soldiers. The staff from the HQ (defence headquarters) and the generals are to blame.”
The retired military referred to the similar incidents in the global practice adding that “there are no bad soldiers but bad officers”.
“Anywhere in the world a soldier/soldiers is /are allowed to disobey orders which will lead to certain death because of poor officership and inadequate logistics.”
Williams also recalled that in South Africa it is legally allowed by the constitution. He noted that Nigerian soldiers are generally not and will not be mutinous.
“You may wish to speak to CJTF(Commander of the JTF) in Maiduguri to be able to indict these soldiers. In a good court of law the death sentence will be not upheld…It is sad and wicked to be unfair to them. Why were the Court-Martial (CM) held in secret? Even the presidency has not made any statement on this issue because it knows the circumstances in which these soldiers were operating.”
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