by James Sambo

Reports say that the Nigerian Army will arraign 16 soldiers over the abduction of over 200 girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State on 14 April.

The soldiers, three of which are officers and 13 soldiers belonging to other ranks would appear before the General Court Martial at the Maxwell Khobe Military Cantonment, Rukuba, Jos in Plateau State after the Muslim holiday.

The officers are Lieutenant Col. A. O. Ojo, Capt. O. O. Ogunrinde, and 2nd Lieutenant V.I. Godknows. The 16 are among 117 soldiers facing a GCM convened by the General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Army in Kaduna, Maj.Gen. K. C. Osuji, on 6 August.

The officers are being charged for failure to perform military duty, an offence that attracts a maximum of two years’ imprisonment. They allegedly left their location in Chibok to lay in ambush when they received a report that insurgents were planning to attack them on the night the schoolgirls were seized.

Ojo, who was the Unit Commander, in Biu, is to appear before the GCM to ascertain the number of girls said to have been abducted by Boko Haram insurgents and those rescued at the time of the incident.

Sources say the “Lt. Colonel is being charged for allegedly giving information without verification, negligent performance of military duty and not going to reinforce the place where the incident took place. The charge attracts a maximum of two years’ imprisonment.”

Ojo is also believed to have not completely taken over from his predecessor and had complained about the number of men and equipment on the ground when the abduction took place, two days after his arrival in Biu for the mission.

The trial is expected to take place at the headquarters of the 3rd Armoured Division, Rukuba in Jos for security reasons. The GCM panel comprises Col. J.J. Ogunlade (President); Col. J. O. Sokoya, Col. M. Kadiri, Col. M. W. Abubakar, Col. A. A. Bamgbose, Col. A. Garba and Col E.M. Albara.

The waiting members of the panel are Lt. Colonels B. Garke and O. S. Obot while Captain A. Mohammed is the judge advocate and Lt. G. B. Suleiman, the liaison officer.

Kolapo Olapoju