Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - “The death penalty given to mutineer soldiers is a symptom of insecurity in the Nigerian army. For some time soldiers have said they cannot go to fight Boko Haram with weapons inferior to those of their adversaries” Fides learned from Fr. Patrick Tor Alumuku, Social Communications Director at the Catholic diocese in the capital Abuja, where yesterday 15 September, soldiers of the Nigerian army were condemned to death for mutiny and attempted murder in May when they plotted to kill their commander in Maiduguri, main city of the state of Borno.
“Yesterday’s sentence was an example for military who refuse to fight against Boko Haram. The sentence, rumoured for three weeks, probably aims to convince the military to make a greater effort to combat the Islamist sect” the priest says .
In the meantime in the State of Kogi, central Nigeria, a military convoy has been attacked by an armed group reportedly connected with Boko Haram. “Kogi lies in central Nigeria, about 150 km south of Abuja, the federal capital, here about 30% of the population is Muslim. A year ago in Kogi state a university professor was charged with being connected with Boko Haram. Clandestine cells of the Islamist had been found in Kogi in the past” Fr. Patrick recalls.
“This shows once again that cells of Boko Haram exist also in other states besides those in the north-east where most of the forces of the sect are found” the priest remarks .
According to the Nigerian Press the recent attack was carried out by men well trained and well equipped. “This should not surprise us – says Fr. Patrick -. A good number of Nigerians were recruited into Gheddafi’s Islamic Legion . After the death of the Libyan leader those boys returned to Nigeria, and many joined the ranks of Boko Haram, bringing as a dowry their military training and even weapons taken from Libyan arsenals. Other members of Boko Haram were formerly members of Islamic Maghreb Al Qaida, so military training is not lacking” concludes the Social Communications Director at the Catholic diocese of Abuja. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 16/9/2014)
