Emman Ovuakporie
About 54 Nigerian soldiers, who were convicted for demanding for better armaments to combat insurgency, have regained their freedom after seven years in prison.
Luckily, the death sentence was commuted to 10 years jail term after the case was reviewed.
The soldiers were, however, released on Tuesday from the medium-security custodian centre, Kirikiri, Apapa maximum prison, and Ikoyi correctional centre after which they were taken to the chambers of human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, in Ikeja, Lagos State.
Falana, who represented the soldiers at the military court-martial, argued that “the only allegation proved against them at the courts-martial was that they protested the refusal of the military authorities to provide weapons to fight insurgency.”
He added, “Unlike many soldiers who deserted the army, the convicts were ready to defend the territorial integrity of the country. They only made a legitimate demand for equipment to fight the insurgents who were better equipped and motivated.”