3 Soldiers Bag Life Imprisonment, 1 Gets 15 Years For Aiding Terrorists

A special court-martial set up by the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division of the Nigerian Army and Sector 1 Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Brigadier General Ugochukwu Unachukwu, has tried two senior non-commissioned officers and two non-commissioned officers for arms/ammunition racketeering and aiding and abetting terrorism.

The charges ranged from theft, unlawful dealing in ammunition, offences in relation to Service Property, and aiding the enemy, all of which are punishable under the relevant sections of the Armed Forces Act (AFA), Law of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), CAP A20 2004, and other extant laws.

Pronouncing the verdict during the proceeding at Headquarters Theatre Command Officers’ Mess in Maiduguri, the president of the SCM, Brigadier General Mohammed Abdullahi, stated that the court-martial convicted Sgt Rapheal Ameh, Sgt Ejiga Musa and LCpl Patrick Ocheje to life imprisonment. At the same time, Cpl Omitoye Rufus was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to several charges.

In the case of Sgt Ameh Raphael, a documentary evidence admitted before the court revealed that as an armourer with 7 Division Garrison, the SNCO conspired with late LCpl Ogbogo Isaac to pilfer ammunition from the Division’s arms store. It was further revealed that he collaborated with one Inspector Francis Ajayi and Francis Manasseh, all of the 30 Police Mobile Force (PMF), to conceal arms in bags of beans and smuggled them to Enugu and Ebonyi States for use by criminals. It was also revealed that Sgt Ameh received the proceeds of this illicit trade through over 100 bank transactions between July 2022 and June 2024.

Sgt Ejiga Musa stole and collaborated with LCpl Patrick Ochoje and Inspector Francis Manasseh of 30 PMF to sell an AK 47 rifle and a large quantity of ammunition while serving as the 195 Battalion’s main armourer. Records showed he collected over ₦ 500,000. Sgt Ejiga met his Waterloo when he attempted to sell the ammunition to Inspector Francis Ajayi, also of 30 PMF.

Cpl Omitoye Rufus was also convicted for selling 40 rounds of 7.62mm special to one Inspector Enoch Nwokolobia. In the case of LCpl Patrick Ocheje while deployed at Forward Operating Base Molai was persuaded by Inspector Francis Manasseh to pilfer ammunition to be sold to militias during communal crisis.

Investigation further revealed that LCpl Patrick received 20 rounds of PKT ammunition from Sgt Ejiga Musa of 195 Bn (M) for sale to terrorist groups in collaboration with Inspector Francis Ajayi. The soldier was also found guilty of stealing an AK 47 rifle belonging to his comrade.

The court held that illicit trade directly endangers troops, imperils military operations and threatens national security; therefore, it amounts to aiding the enemy.

The court president Brigadier General Abdullahi asserted that the activities of “these bad personnel are not only a violation of the law but a betrayal of the trust, discipline and honour expected of troops in the theatre.

“The Nigerian Army (NA) maintains zero tolerance for gross misconduct, fraudulent practices and unprofessional practices. Such acts erode discipline, undermine morale and bring the service into disrepute,” he said.

The NA’s commitment to accountability and justice is evident in its investigations into alleged misconduct and its efforts to promote a culture of professionalism through reward and punishment while fostering better relationships with the public.

He also reiterated the NA’s posture on zero tolerance for the sale of ammunition to adversaries or anybody in whatever guise or form.