The Nigerian Army has dismissed six soldiers of 19 Battalion for acts of cowardice.
The six had abandoned their duty posts and fled as Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (BH/ISWAP) terrorists invaded their camp in the Damboa area of Borno State.
The six include:
- 19NA/78/0690 PTE OLANIYI EMMANUEL
- 20NA/79/3745 PTE MASA’UDU ADAMU
- 22NA/82/5192 PTE ABDUL AZEE SALEH
- 22NA/82/ 1721 PTE MOHAMMED MOHAMMED.
- 22NA/82/1191 PTE ADAH TOYE
- 22NA/82/1909 PTE HASSAN ABUBAKAR
According to a source: “Yes, the soldiers have been dismissed. They failed to return fire when terrorists infiltrated their location. As a result of their actions, some soldiers were Killed in Action (KIA) while others were Wounded in Action (WIA).
Section 47 of the Armed Forces Act which deals with ‘Cowardly Behaviour’ stated as follows:
“(1) A person subject to service law under this Act who, when before the enemy-
(a) leaves the post, position, watch or other place where it is his duty to be; or
(b) throws away his arms, ammunition or tools, in such a manner as to show cowardice or otherwise behaves in such a manner as to show cowardice, shall be guilty of an offence against this section.
“(2) A person subject to service law under this Act who when before the enemy, induces any other person subject to this Act and before the enemy to commit an offence under subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of an offence against this section.”
