Army sentences 54 Soldiers to death for Mutiny

54 Nigerian soldiers has been sentenced to death after they were found guilty of mutiny at the General Court Martial sitting at the Army Headquarters Garrison in Abuja on Wednesday.They were convicted on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy to commit mutiny.The convicted soldiers were serving in the epicenter of the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno state.They are to die on stakes, by firing squad.
The trial of the soldiers commenced on October 15 on allegations  that they disobeyed orders to join operations against the extremist group, Boko Haram which is a heavy crime in the military.
Although all the accused soldiers pleaded not guilty to the charges.

J.E. Nwosu an army captain who is the prosecutor,alleged that the accused soldiers had on August 4, in Maiduguri, refused to join the 111 Special Forces Battalion troops, commanded by Timothy Opurum, a Lieutenant Colonel for an operation.

He said the operation was meant to recapture Delwa, Bulabulin and Damboa in Borno State from the Boko Haram terrorists.

According to him, the offence is punishable under Section 52(1) (a) of the Armed Forces Act Cap A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.