The death sentence handed down to the 12 soldiers, now famously called Maiduguri 12, who were involved in a mutiny against the GOC at the Maimalari Military Cantonment, Maiduguri, Borno State, by a military court martial, has been endorsed by some retired generals in the country who believe that the soldiers deserve to die for what they did.
According to the ex-generals, the military laws stipulate that mutiny attracts a death sentenced and the soldiers knew what they were playing with by their actions and it showed that they were prepared for death before they decided to take such actions.
The former Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Brig.-Gen. Williams Obene (retd.), told the Sunday Punch Newspaper in an interview thus:
I commend the boldness of the Army authorities to follow the terms and conditions of service – the extant laws that established the armed forces, particularly the Army– and for trying to uphold discipline at the highest level.
When politicians and highly influential Nigerians interfere in the daily administration of the military, things become difficult. That situation is very prevalent under democracy.
Another retired Army general, Major Gen. David Jemibewon, (retd.), a former Adjutant General of the Nigerian Army, the military does not care about sentiments or sympathy.
The military does not operate on sentiments or on people expressing either sympathy or lack of sympathy. Most of the things (we do) in the military are based on laws. It is difficult for me to align with people calling for clemency or pardon. The court martial has the facts and they have now come to conclusion after allowing evidence.
Retired Colonel Anthony Nyiam added his voice to the clamour for the Maiduguri 12’s death sentence:
As a soldier, and respecter of the law and tradition, the worst thing a soldier can do is to mutiny. And the penalty, as the law says, should be served. If you interrupt the traditions of the military, you’re interfering with the foundations.
It was the same affirmative action for the former military administrator of Bauchi and Osun States, Col. Theophilus Bamigboye (retd.):
The court has followed the laid down procedure and military etiquette. They (the court) must have looked at the entire situations before arriving at the sentence. We have our own laws and so many things regulating our conduct in the military. I will not want anybody to die but we are talking of military procedure, which has to be followed.
But the generality of Nigerians believe the soldiers should be pardoned or the sentences mitigated.
What do you think?
