The Nigerian army court martial has sentenced to death by firing squad, 12 of the soldiers who carried out a mutiny against their General Officer Commanding, GOC, of the Maimalari Military Cantonment in Maiduguri, Borno State, on the 13th and 14th May, 2014.
The military court martial, in sentencing the soldiers, opined that what they did amounted to treason and therefore, they must be shot to death.
They were charged with six count of criminal conspiracy to commit mutiny, disobeying lawful orders and various acts said to be inimical to the military service.
The 12 unfortunate soldiers, were among the 18 on trial for protesting what they termed lack of welfare, exposing them to danger, inadequate provision of ammunition to fight the Boko Haram insurgents, and the military authorities lack of sincerity in the fight against the terrorists.
5 of the soldiers were discharged and acquitted while one was sentenced to 28 days in prison with hard labour.
Recall that the angry soldiers had vented their anger at the way they were treated by the military hierarchy by firing at their GOC during a morning parade earlier in the year.
Do you think these young men should be killed?