Army Generals Under Probe for Selling Arms to Boko Haram as Mutineers Face Court Martial

Army Generals under Probe for Selling Arms to Boko Haram as Mutineers Face Court Martial

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Kenneth Minimah is leading the investigation of 9 Generals and Senior Military Officers accused of selling arms to Boko Haram. It is also alleged that the Generals gave Boko Haram tips on troops’ movement, operations and were involved in illegal movement of weapons from the Nigerian Army armouries in various northern states.

Senior Military sources confirmed that during interrogation Boko Haram suspects named the Generals and senior officers as their arms suppliers. The Army’s investigation was prompted by loud accusations from independent foreign media and strong evidence provided by US/EU military intelligence sources that top Nigerian military chiefs were colluding with Boko Haram resulting in the terrorists gaining rapid offensive capability and upper hand over frontline troops.

Meanwhile, facts emerging from the Nigerian Army Headquarters in Abuja yesterday indicated that the soldiers who fired at the vehicle of the General Officer Commanding 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri, Major-General Ahmed Abdullahi, will be court-martialed this weekend.

 It was learnt that a preliminary investigation had been concluded and the military high command was set to try the soldiers.

 The investigation has already established the identity of the soldiers involved, and the extent of their involvement in the alleged mutiny.

 If they are found guilty of the alleged offences, they may be dismissed and jailed, while those with little involvement may be demoted.

 It was also learnt that soldiers have been complaining about poor welfare, low morale, poor strategy, poor equipment and poor leadership, and that the Wednesday’s incident followed a forced overnight trip that some soldiers were made to take, which led to 12 deaths in the hands of Boko Haram who had laid an ambush for the troops.

 The former GOC had instituted an inquiry himself, but he was overruled from Abuja and a new inquiry was set up instead.

 Military sources had claimed that there was a growing “disloyalty” and “indiscipline” on the Borno war front and therefore such insubordination must be checked to prevent a breakdown of order.

“We want to send a strong message to would-be mutineers,” the source said.

 The attacked GOC, General Abdullahi, escaped unhurt in the incident and has since been redeployed for his own safety, because of the hostility of the soldiers.

 The new GOC is Brigadier M.Y Ibrahim, who becomes the fourth commander since the creation of the 7 Division last year.  Major-General Obida Ethan was first, before Major-General Unsaid Bindawa and then General Mohammed.