Metro

2,500 soldiers, 102 officers get respite, recalled

Published

9 years ago

August 24, 2015

About 2,500 soldiers who were shown the way out of the Nigerian Army for various offences alleged to have been committed during the war against insurgency in the North east part of the country, have been recalled.
Also, 102 officers who were either sentenced, or are still facing prosecution by military authorities in relation to alleged offences committed in the war against the Boko Haram sect have also been reinstated.
It was learnt that a review panel set up by the Army, which began sitting in Kaduna on August 17 offered the respite to the soldiers and officers who are said to have commenced retraining at the Nigerian Army Training Centre, Kontangora, Niger State.
The 2,500 soldiers were among the over 4,000 who responded to a memo from the Army authorities inviting soldiers for a review of recent disciplinary cases, which emanated from the counter terrorism operations.

The Army had said on August 1, 2015 that the service would constitute a panel to review all recent disciplinary cases in the service.
But the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, cautioned that the directive to review disciplinary cases should not be mistaken for a “total reinstatement of dismissed and deserter soldiers.”
Reports suggest that more dismissed personnel of the Army might be brought back to the service as the screening panel would continue with the review of cases on Monday (today).
After the retraining, the Army authorities would screen the affected personnel and re-activate their suspended bank accounts.
It was further learnt that the panel would also review the cases of 66 soldiers who were sentenced to death by firing squad.

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