Nigerian soldier to spend 18 months in jail for stealing bullets
– A soldier in Maiduguri was imprisoned for unauthorised possession of ammunitions
– The man who was caught red-handed carrying ammo in his bag, now ill spend 18 months in jail
– Three other officers were found guilty of professional misconduct in the frontline
Bullets in the bag
Private Mcdonald Chukwu was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for unauthorised possession of live ammunitions outside his assigned duty post.
The sentence was announced during a military general court martial in Maiduguri, Borno state, on Tuesday, Novermber 22.
Mr Chukwu was detained while trying to board a commercial bus in Maiduguri after police sergeant Sarah Peters found 89 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunitions inside his bag.
First the soldier said he forgot to take the ammo out of his bag after returning from his duty post as he hurried to get money from an ATM machine to travel.
However, later he changed his testimony and declined to admit he was in possession of the ammunitions.
Professional misconduct
Army Major Usman Inyam, a commanding officer in charge of infantry troops in Takumbare area of Gwoza local government, forfeited 18 months of his seniority status for professional misconduct.
Mr Inyam reportedly abandoned duty post frequently used by Boko Haram insurgents that may have endangered the lives of troops in the frontline.
Another Major Mr. Bello, a commander of tank battalion, was also punished for the same offence.
He will forfeit his seniority by 20 months, while a captain, Christopher Leche, was stripped for two years.
All three officers will not be promoted within the stated periods. The court martial would continue its sitting on Wednesday, November 23.
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