Nigerian soldiers given death penalty for mutiny

(BBC) A Nigerian court martial has sentenced 54 soldiers to death for refusing to fight Boko Haram Islamist militants.

The soldiers, who were found guilty of mutiny, were accused of refusing to help recapture three towns that had been seized by Boko Haram in August.

A lawyer for the soldiers said the 54 would face a firing squad while five others were acquitted.

Troops have complained that they are not being given enough weapons and ammunition to fight Boko Haram.

The group has been waging an insurgency since 2009 and is seeking to create an Islamist state in north-eastern Nigeria.

More than 2,000 people have died in attacks blamed on Boko Haram so far this year and thousands more have been displaced by the fighting.

The court martial began in October and was conducted behind closed doors. Military officials were not available for comment afterwards.

Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-30526725


-- BBC 2014-12-18

That's great. They're not given the necessary equipment, but are expected to fight them anyway, and if they refuse they're executed.

Not a great way to increase morale in the army.

'Give us the tools and we will finish the job'? Plus a bit of back bone of course.

The executions will continue until morale improves.

That's great. They're not given the necessary equipment, but are expected to fight them anyway, and if they refuse they're executed.

the article is too vague to form an opinion.

the soldiers complained about lacking equipment - what equipment did they have, what equipment did they want, were any weapons discarded intentionally, etc...

given how cheap AK 47 and the ammo are, I can't really imagine Nigerian soldiers not being equipped with such.

The western world has more indirect approach to coersion.

Edited December 18, 201411 yr by lil fluffy clouds