A Nigerian court martial has sentenced 54 soldiers to death for refusing to fight Boko Haram Islamist militants.
According to BBC, the soldiers have been accused of refusing to help recapture three towns seized by Boko Haram.
[contextly_sidebar id=”Uj47vzQWLkzgArV1jV7g8bf3SKUgMQSx”]The 54 soldiers would face a firing squad. Five others were however,acquitted.
Troops have complained that they are not being given enough weapons and ammunition to fight Boko Haram.
Defence Lawyer Femi Falana said the soldiers have been accused of “conspiring to commit mutiny against the authorities of 7 Division, Nigerian Army”.
The soldiers have denied charges levelled against them and the sentence is subject to approval by senior officers.
Boko Haram is seeking to establish an Islamist state in north-eastern Nigeria.
The group which was founded in 2002 initially focused on opposing Western education.
Boko Harama means “Western education is forbidden” in the Hausa language.
The group launched its military operations in 2009 to create Islamic state.
Thousands have been killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria from several attacks launched by the group.
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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana