Leadership (Abuja)
By Bayo Oladeji, Chika Otuchikere, Kunle Olasanmi
The 12 soldiers condemned to death by a military court-martial have been moved to military facilities in Kainji in Niger State and Lagos, LEADERSHIP learnt yesterday.
A reliable source said that the soldiers had been moved to an underground cell at the military intelligence Headquarters in Apapa, Lagos State.
The source further said that they are facing inhuman treatment at the underground cell where they were kept.
The soldiers were tried and convicted for mutiny by a military court-martial last week.
The source said, "About 10am on Sunday, somebody called to tell me that the condemned soldiers were about to be moved to an unknown destination. While going, they (officers conveying the condemned soldiers) stopped over at Kanji, Niger State, to drop some people and then moved to Lagos from there.
"When they got to Lagos, they were taken to Military Intelligence Headquarters where they were kept in an underground cell without any window. Since the death sentence was passed on them, they have not been well fed.
"With the kind of treatment meted out to them, their chances of survival are very slim. They still have the right of appeal and should be treated well so that they don't die in custody before the appeal is filed, heard and determined."
Since the verdict was passed on the soldiers, many Nigerians have been appealing to the military authorities to reduce their sentence, with some even appealing to President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene.
One week after, military jet still missing
More than one week after a military jet purportedly deployed for air strikes against Boko Haram insurgents was declared missing by military authorities, LEADERSHIP can confirm that the whereabouts of the jet are still shrouded in mystery.
Defence authorities announced last week that the aircraft disappeared around Adamawa State air space where intense fighting with the insurgents was ongoing to recapture some of the territories reportedly taken by the terrorists.
Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, had said in an electronic mail in the early hours of the next day after the disappearance was reported that the aircraft, an Alpha jet, had been missing since Friday, September 12, 2014.
Olukolade disclosed that the aircraft left Yola at 10:45am on an operational mission and was expected back to base by 12pm same day but had not been found.
The defence spokesman who revealed that the aircraft had two pilots on board said the military had started search and rescue efforts meant to establish contact with the crew and subsequently recover the aircraft.
'We are still searching for missing aircraft'
Reacting to enquiries from LEADERSHIP yesterday, the Air Force spokesman, Air Commodore Dele Alonge, said the Nigerian Air Force was still searching for the missing aircraft.
"We are still searching for the aircraft. All hands are on deck; every suspected place is being combed and once it is located the public would be informed. It is very unfortunate but we will surely find it. The area is Sahel and full of hills and mountains. We strongly believe it would be found," the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian military yesterday said it had subdued more members of the Boko Haram sect, and that they were now surrendering their weapons.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) made this known in a tweet in which it said that 10 terrorists surrendered to some troops at Kawuri village in Borno State.
According to the DHQ, the terrorists are being held by the military for debriefing.
"Another set of 10 terrorists yesterday surrendered to troops at in Kawuri. In custody for necessary security debriefing #VictoryforNigeria," the military said.
The DHQ also revealed that five members of the group had earlier surrendered during a massive onslaught by troops in Konduga, saying that the insurgents also pleaded for mercy while surrendering their weapons.
The DHQ also affirmed that there was no raid in any part of Nigeria as widely reported by some Cameroonian soldiers, and asserted that all operations in Konduga, its environs and all border locations within Nigeria were handled by Nigerian troops.
In another development, security operatives have apprehended five persons suspected to be members of Boko Haram sect at the Damare NYSC camp where internally displaced persons are being sheltered in Yola.
The public relations officer of the Adamawa State Police Command, Michael Haa, confirmed the arrest of the five suspected Boko Haram members, saying that investigation was ongoing. The five suspects were picked up by plainclothes security agents.
Boko Haram commander killed not Shekau
Meanwhile, a Nigerian military intelligence source has disclosed to an online news medium that contrary to reports doing the rounds that the Boko Haram kingpin, Abubakar Shakau, was killed in a military operation in Konduga, the top Boko Haram figure killed was actually one Bashir Mohammed, leader of the Islamist sect's Uye camp.
The intelligence source said that Nigerian soldiers, not Cameroonian troops, killed Bashir Mohammed last Friday in a fierce battle against Boko Haram insurgents in Konduga, Borno State. The late Mohammed, who bore a striking resemblance to Abubakar Shekau and had appeared in a recent video, was killed as he led insurgents who were attempting to capture Konduga and then make a bid to seize Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
No raid by Cameroonians in Nigeria - DHQ
The Nigerian military has put a lie to claims that Cameroon was responsible for the elimination of some terrorists in Nigeria last week.
According to a tweet from the handle of Defence Headquarters, "There was no raid whatsoever by Cameroon or any foreign forces in any part of Nigeria's territory in pursuit of terrorists as claimed in some reports allegedly quoting Cameroon military authorities.
"All operations ongoing in the environs of Konduga and all associated border locations within the country are completely being undertaken by Nigerian troops."
While the Nigerian military is yet to officially name some of the top terrorists killed in recent operations, more suspected insurgents have continued to surrender themselves to the troops.
Another set of terrorists surrendered to troops at Kawuri yesterday. Military officials confirmed that those that have surrendered had been taken into custody for necessary security investigations.
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