Tension In Military Over Court Martial …Security Beefed Up At Venues

There is outrage and misgivings among a section of the military, over the decision of the General Court Martial convened by the Commander, Army Headquarters Garrison in Abuja, Brigadier General B.T Ndiomu, to try a Lieutenant Colonel (names with-held) and 37 soldiers who were under his command for mutiny even after it emerged that the officer single-handedly, braved the odds and led troops to storm Sambisa forest in search of the abducted over 200 girls of Government Secondary School, Chibok.
It would be recalled that the General Court Martial to be presided over by Brigadier General Musa Sain Yusuf will October 15, commence the arraignment of 97 soldiers including four Lieutenant Colonels, one Major and four Captains on charges related to Mutiny, Assault; Absence without leave (AWOL); House breaking, Conduct prejudicial to good orders, and Service discipline as well as Offences relating to Service property, among others.
Nearly 100 soldiers tasked with fighting Boko Haram militants in the North East appeared at a military court martial last Thursday, facing a range of charges including mutiny.
The hearing comes just weeks after a tribunal sentenced 12 soldiers to death following their conviction for shooting at their commanding officer in the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, in May.
It was gathered that several officers including some retired Generals and soldiers who knew about the exploits of the Lieutenant Colonel and his daring foray into Sambisa forest where he personally led from the frontline and coordinated the attack on and destruction of Boko Haram Camps before retreating were shocked that such an officer could be treated with a court martial arraignment.
According to sources, the officer as Commander of the Battalion in Konduga, led Special Forces of the Nigerian Army to stop daring attacks from Boko Haram terrorists into Bama several times before the massive attack that led to its fall when a Brigadier General who was in charge at 21 Brigade could not with stand Boko Haram infiltration.
The Lt. Colonel and his men successfully held Konduga and stoutly provided the leadership that enabled his troops to lead from the ground while airforce jets provided air attack during the attack and killing of over 50 Boko Haram terrorists in Kawuri, resulting in the seizure of a cache of arms and ammunition.
Reliving what happened when the officer led his men into Sambisa, an officer who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “During the botched operation to locate and rescue the Chibok girls, several Battalions were programmed to enter the vast jungle and forest area from the North, East, West and South of Sambisa.
“The officer and his men entered from the Konduga axis and took on any enemy on sight, killing terrorists and destroying camp after camp, until they were called back”.
“The officer and his soldiers were later to discover that the other battalions that were to infiltrate the forest from their sectors did not move in, obviously due to superior orders”.
However, the military authorities have intensified security around officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army involved in the on-going General Court Martial in Jos, Abuja as well as other parts of the country.
Investigations revealed that military authorities decided to move the Court Martial from 1 Division, Kaduna, to the 3rd Armoured Division, Jos for security reasons.
A security source who pleaded for anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, confided in our correspondent.
He said the military high command decided to move all the cases emanating from the on-going operation in the North East to Jos and Abuja, because of the need for a more effective security arrangement for those under interrogation and those conducting the trial.
The source said members of the Boko Haram Islamic Sect had written a letter to the headquarters of 1 Division, Kaduna, where the trial was initially supposed to take place that they would attack the trial venue for reasons yet to be made clear.
The sect members were also said to have written a similar letter to the headquarters of the Division 3 of the Nigerian Army, in Jos.
Investigations revealed that the situation made Army authorities to tighten security around the venues of the court martial and the detention centres to ensure the safety of those under trial and those responsible for conducting the trials.
It was gathered that it became necessary to move the court martial from Kaduna to Jos to try offences committed in relation with the on-going operation because of the distance between the detention centre and the venue of the court.
It was gathered that unlike the Mogadishu Cantonment where the officers’ mess is located within, the Officers Mess in Kaduna is located on Kanta Road, which is some distance from the 1 Division Headquarters venue of the trial.
However, another security source explained that the movement of the Court Martial from Kaduna to Jos was not because of the letter written by the Boko Haram to the Army authorities.
It was argued that even if the military had taken a decision to carry out the court martial in Maiduguri, which is close to the centre of the on-going operation, a strong security arrangement would have been put in place to secure the venue of the trial, and those involved in the trial.
The source said, “The military authorities have tightened security around the detainees facing trial because of a letter by the Boko Haram members who threatened to attack the trial venues.
“It would be right to say that the decision to move the trial venue from Kaduna to Jos was for security and convenience.
“You know that officers’ mess where they were being detained is in Kanta Road and it is not within the 1 Division Headquarters at Kawo, Kaduna.
“I believe, they considered the distance between the detention centre and the venue of the trial and also noted the fact that a bomb attack had taken place along that route in the past.
“But the insurgents also wrote to the Army authorities in Jos and the Army authorities have put in place elaborate security arrangement.
“That might inform the decision to restrict access in a way to the trial venue.”
But another source explained that security provision remained a major aspect in any General Court Martial.
The source said that it was in line with the tradition of the military to place emphasis on the safety of those whose freedom had been restricted and those playing various roles in the ongoing trial.
“You should know that the letter by the Boko Haram was written long ago, it is not new. Those guys are always writing with the intent to cause panic.
“But what I will tell you is that those being tried are human beings; those being kept in one place for the trial are human beings; they have their sympathisers, they have their brother so it is compulsory to secure the place.
“That is to tell you that even without any Boko Haram letter, the military would still have provided security.
Meanwhile, investigation revealed that another court martial had opened at the Second Division of the Nigerian Army Army, Ibadan.
The General Court Martial was said to have been inaugurated two week ago to try various acts of misdemeanours in the Army.
When our correspondent contacted the Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen Chris Olukolade, he said that court martial are traditionally expected to take place at the level of divisions to try emergent offices in the military.
“It is normal for court martial to take place at the level of the Division, to try offences in accordance with military laws,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has concluded arrangements to arraign 16 soldiers over the April 14, 2014, abduction of over 200 students of the Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State.
Three of the soldiers are officers while the remaining 13 soldiers belong to other ranks.
Our correspondent gathered in Abuja on Monday that barring any last minute change, they would appear before the General Court Martial at the Maxwell Khobe Military Cantonment, Rukuba, Jos in Plateau State after the Sallah holidays.
The officers are Lieutenant Col. A. O. Ojo, Capt. O. O. Ogunrinde, and 2nd Lieutenant V.I. Godknows.
The 16 are among 117 soldiers  facing a GCM convened by the General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Army in Kaduna, Maj.Gen. K. C. Osuji, on August 6, 2014.
A source said their trial would take place at the headquarters of the 3rd Armoured Division, Rukuba in Jos for security reasons.
The GCM panel comprises Col. J.J. Ogunlade (President); Col. J. O. Sokoya, Col. M. Kadiri, Col. M. W. Abubakar, Col. A. A. Bamgbose, Col. A. Garba and Col E.M. Albara.
Lt. Colonels B. Garke and  O. S. Obot are the waiting members of the panel which has Captain A. Mohammed as the judge advocate and Lt. G. B. Suleiman as the liaison officer.
Investigations revealed that Ojo, who was the Unit Commander, in Biu, was summoned to the GCM in relation with the conflict in the number of girls said to have been abducted by Boko Haram insurgents and those  rescued at the time of the incident.
The officer is also being charged for alleged failure to reinforce the Chibok community when the incident occurred.
It was gathered that the officers were being charged for failure to perform military duty, an offence that attracts a maximum of two years’ imprisonment.
A source, who confided in our correspondent said that the Lt. Colonel had stated that the number he gave was not the one that was used in a statement by the Defence Headquarters on the reported rescue of some of the abducted girls.
The said that the statement was later withdrawn.
The source said, “The Lt. Colonel is being charged for allegedly giving information without verification, negligent performance of military duty and not going to reinforce the place where the incident took place. The charge attracts a maximum of two years’ imprisonment.”
He also said that Ojo had not completely taken over from his predecessor and had complained about the number of men and equipment on the ground when the abduction took place two days after his arrival in Biu for the mission.
It was stated that the shortage of men was shown by the fact that only the 2nd Lt. and 13 soldiers were in Chibok  in spite of the fact that the place had a heavy presence of insurgents.
It was gathered that the other soldiers led by Godknows were on duty at the headquarters of the Chibok Local Government Area on the day of the incident.
Another source told our correspondent that the Army was not  notified of the examinations that were going on in the school.
The source said that a statement by the Principal of the school, Asabe Kwambura, corroborated the soldiers’ claim.
Investigations revealed that the soldiers left their location in Chibok to lay in ambush when they received a report that insurgents were planning to attack them on the night the schoolgirls were seized.
They were said to have lost a soldier during the face-off with the Boko Haram members.
The source said,  “Only Godknows and 13 soldiers were on duty in Chibok. They were not stationed within the school. No soldier was stationed in the school and they didn’t know that the school was in session.
“Nobody notified these people that the girls were having an examination in the school. Even the principal admitted in her statement that the soldiers were not notified.
“They were told that their camp was about to be attacked so they went out to lay in ambush for insurgents. One of the soldiers died.
“But I can confirm to you that the Army has  concluded preparations to arraign them.”
The abduction of the schoolgirls sparked global outrage with world leaders  calling on the terrorist group and the Federal Government to ensure their safe release.

Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi (right), Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari (middle) and Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Joaba West at the Native and Vogue Port Harcourt International Fashion Week in Port Harcourt, recently