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Army sacks 200 for cowardice

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The Nigeria Army has sacked at least 200 soldiers for cowardice and failure to fight against Boko Haram militants.

The BBC reports that several soldiers said up to 4,500 other rank and file soldiers could face the same fate.

A Nigerian military source confirmed the dismissals to the BBC, but would not give an exact figure.

Many of the dismissals are thought to be connected to the fall of Mubi, the second largest town in Adamawa State, one of three states under the state of emergency. Boko Haram insurgents captured the town in October after clashes with government forces.

One of the soldiers who has been dismissed, and was present at the fall of Mubi, told the BBC Hausa service that soldiers were simply following orders from their commanders, who had told them to retreat from the town because they lacked adequate weapons to take on the militants.

“We weren’t given an opportunity to defend ourselves. I’ve spent 20 years in the service of the Nigerian Army; I’ve never been accused of any offence,” said the soldier, who did not want to be named.

It is expected that the dismissed soldiers will not receive any extra payment or pensions because of their low rank and are not entitled to defend themselves in a military court.

A military official, who did not want to be named, said that video footage taken during the fall of Mubi showed soldiers fleeing Boko Haram, providing proof of their cowardice.

Nigeria’s incoming President Muhammadu Buhari may review the death sentences of 66 soldiers separately convicted for refusing to fight Boko Haram, according to their lawyer.

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  1. Sexymama

    May 28, 2015 at 7:50 am

    Dont know the exact details of this but if its truly cowardice, then they deserve to be sacked. Joining the military means you understand the codes of it…The only fear is that these guys can decide to form their own militia and pose problems in the future as they would have been trained well by the military

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