Two Soldiers attached to 241 Recce Battalion, Nguru, Yobe State, have been dismissed by the Nigerian Army, after they were found guilty on two-count charge.
According to the Acting Commanding Officer of the Battalion, Lt. Col. Ibrahim Abdullahi Osabo, the suspects were found guilty on two-count charge; namely: failure to perform military duties and conduct to prejudice of service discipline.
The suspects had their ranks reduced from lance corporal to private before their complete dismissal.
It would be recalled that police in Yobe State apprehended Lance Corporal John Gabriel with service number N/A13/69/1522 and Lance Corporal Adamu Gideon N/A13/70/6552, both attached to 241 Recce Battalion, Nguru, Yobe State after killing a renowned Islamic cleric, Sheikh Goni Aisami in cold blood.
The cleric, who was traveling from Kano State, was said to have given Gabriel a lift.
On getting to Jaji-Maji, a village along Gashua town, Gabriel was said to have told the deceased that there was an unusual noise at the rear tyre. The cleric, it was gathered, stopped to check the tyres.
Gabriel was said to have allegedly brought out his rifle concealed in a camp bed and shot the cleric dead.
He, however, called Gideon on phone to assist him to tow the vehicle.
The Nigeria Army set up a Board of Inquiry to investigate the alleged murder of the Islamic cleric by soldiers who had been arrested by the police.
A military source on Saturday told newsmen that the board recommended the soldiers should be we court martialed.
The source added that they were demoted and dismissed after the court martial found them guilty.
The source said, “The two soldiers accused of killing one Islamic cleric in Yobe, Lcpl John Gabriel and Lcpl Adamu Gideon of 241 Battalion, Yobe, were charged on two counts bordering on murder, and found guilty as charged. Apart from that, they were both demoted from Lance Corporal to Private before they were dismissed. ”
When contacted, the Assistant Director, Public Relations, Headquarters Sector 2 Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Kennedy Anyanwu, confirmed the development to newsmen.
He said, “Yes, they have been charged and dismissed. We just finished the court martial not quite long,” adding that a statement was being worked on.