Army sentences soldier to death for murder; jail others for various offences

A General Court Martial sitting in Maiduguri, Borno State, has sentenced a soldier serving in Operation Lafiya Dole, Lance Corporal John Godwin, to death.

The court sentenced Godwin to death for killing five rescued civilians in the Yamteke area of Borno State during investigation.

This is just as some other soldiers were jailed by the court for various offences ranging from manslaughter to illegal possession of fire arms and ammunition.

The soldier was charged with murder, which is punishable under Section 106 (a) of Armed Forces Acts (Cap A20), Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004.

According to Lt Colonel Kingsley Samuel, 7 Division’s spokesperson, who confirmed the sentence, “The civilians were earlier rescued by troops of Godwin’s battalion and were taken for investigation at the time he shot and killed five of them.

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“Another soldier, Sergeant Innocent Ototo, was sentenced to life imprisonment for manslaughter after torturing and killing a 13-year-old boy who he said stole his phone.

The incident happened at Zamanbari area of Maiduguri in Borno State.”