BY Haleem Olatunji
The Nigerian army has sacked three soldiers for alleged kidnapping in Borno state.
Olusegun Adeniyi, the theatre commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, made this known while handing over the dismissed soldiers to the police in Maiduguri, the state capital, on Sunday.
He said the soldiers were arrested with 22 other suspects by a joint patrol team at a building on the outskirts of Maiduguri.
Adeniyi said the soldiers had attempted to escape but were tied with ropes because handcuffs were not available.
“The three soldiers were caught among the evil group, there was further resistance and attempt to escape, so we tied them up with ropes because handcuffs were not available,” he said.
“In addition; we could not put violent men that do this kind of crimes into a police van to take to the station, there will be breakout on the road and we know what would happen.
“We have to restrain them thoroughly with ropes before we take them and handover to the police.
“The Acting GOC, 7 Division, Brig.-Gen. AK Ibrahim, has conducted military procedures. We do not keep armed robbers, kidnappers and cultists in the army, they had been dismissed.”
The theatre commander said the action of the soldiers is in violation of the army’s code of conduct, adding that their service is no longer needed.
“We gathered here to witness their handover to the Nigeria Police Force for civil action, they are dismissed, and they are no longer soldiers of the Nigerian Army,” he said.
“Our code of conduct is strict and high, no evil soldier will be allowed to serve in the army.”
Mohamed Aliyu, the commissioner of police in the state, said the command arrested 25 cult suspects at Bagani Hotels in Abuja, Sheraton area of the metropolis.
He said the suspects belong to a cult group called Neo Black Movement, adding that they were arrested wearing black dresses at about 2:00 a.m. while conducting their initiation activities.
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