Why Nigerian Army Dismissed 203 Soldiers

The Nigerian Army has reportedly dismissed 203 soldiers after a secret court martial held in the dead of the night. Premium Times reports that the soldiers were dismissed for allegedly disobeying a direct order from their commanding officer. According to one of the dismissed soldiers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, he said the affected soldiers were dismissed for asking for support equipment, following the army’s plan to convey them in a tipper for an operation in Bama and Gwoza, two strongholds of Boko Haram insurgents. It was gathered that the soldier, are originally of the 19th Battalion in Okitipupa in Ondo State, but attached to the 7th division in Maiduguri, revealed that the army detained them for over 90 days before dismissing them after a midnight trial. The soldier, who also revealed that they are owed up to five months in unpaid salaries, further narrated the event that led to their dismissal.