Good day,

I read in The Guardian newspaper, of Saturday 20th June 2009, a disturbing story about some soldiers given life sentences for mutinous activity. The story (Admin: reproduced below) highlighted the particular case of Esther Nwakor. I found this very disturbing that a young person's life is tragically being wasted for engaging in a protest. I understand that the army has a code of conduct, having graduated from the Nigerian Military School (Zaria) myself, but this case is stretching the army's code very inhumanely.

A dismissal from the army would have sufficed as appropriate for this crime (I will admit that I don't have the full details of the case). As long as nobody physically harmed or threatened by the said mutinous activity by the soldiers, a life sentence is gross injustice. We Nigerians know all the imperfections of our present way of life at the same time we want justice applied equally to every one irrespective of rank and standing in society. As much as the army wants to send a message out to the force, the army should strive and stand for fairness. The humanity in us is not being kind when things are rosey, but from those acts we make in perilous times.

One of the many tragedies of Nigeria today is how we waste lives of young people. Given my limited knowledge of the whole case I hope a campaign for an amnesty is justifiable.

I also want to use this opportunity to congratulate your website on the good work you are doing. Thanks in advance.

Yours faithfully,

Muhammed Bashiru (PhD).

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Life Sentence For Protesting Soldiers:

'Cheating In Army Ruined My Career'

By Godwin Ijediogor and Ajibola Amzat

AT just 18, Esther Nkawor in 2004 had joined the Army in 2004 to serve her fatherland, with eyes on furthering her education to enhance her career in the Force.

Now at 22, with a life sentence hanging on her neck, she may never realise her dreams, unless fortune, by way of amnesty or justice at the appeal court, smiles on her.

"The way they advised us about the work, I thought it was a work somebody could do. The person that bought a form for me advised me that it was a very good job," she recalled.

But on getting in, she saw that it was very tough and thought to herself that it probably would have been better for her to have stayed in the village farming. Yet, she held on, hoping that things would improve. Instead, it has now become worse for her, a nightmare.

Understandably, she regrets enlisting into the Nigerian Army over what she termed "too much cheating."

"I don't know how to put it again. If they have their way, they would not even pay us; they would divert the money into their accounts. They are very wicked," she bemoaned the alleged injustice in the military.

In custody, she is missing everything she once had, especially her freedom. She is pained that she might not be able to further her education if nothing is done about her case.

"I even lost my mother and wanted to go for the burial the following Saturday after the protest," she said.

While in Liberia, she must have thought that her dreams were about to be realised, as she hoped to use her entitlement from the operation to attain her academic pursuits. She even thought the money would go a long way in lifting her from the poverty line. It was going to be her first bulk money in the service of her fatherland. Indeed, her family must have been equally expectant.

But all that has now evaporated, replaced by dwarfed ambitions and a kick in the face instead of a pat on the back for exemplary service.

They asked for their rights; to be paid what rightly belonged to them but denied those rights the Nigerian Army authorities, which instead put them behind bars-for life!

But out of the 850 Nigerian soldiers who served in the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operation in Liberia and who protested against the non-payment of their entitlements from the world body in Akure September last year, 27 of them were in April sentenced to life imprisonment on the charge of mutiny.

In the last nine months, they have been in the dungeon in Ibadan; their fundamental rights denied by a constituency they have served loyally all these years and a nation they have fought to bring honour to, even outside its shores.

Most of them never really thought it necessary to bid their families bye-bye: after all, they were asked just to come and collect their money. And they may never actually have the opportunity to do so until their case is reviewed. So, the question is, who will listen to the cry for justice of these young men and women who committed no offence against their fatherland, except just ask to be given that which they worked for and, therefore, earned?

Robot  # 1 | 21.06.2009 01:05

://img30.imageshack.us/img30/6199/nkawor.I read in The Guardian newspaper, of Saturday 20th June 2009, a disturbing story about some soldiers given life sentences for mutinous activity. The story highlighted the particular case of Esther Nwakor. A dismissal from the army would have sufficed as appropriate for this crime. As long as nobody physically harmed or threatened by the said mutinous activity by the soldiers, a life sentence is gross injustice....Read the full article.

saemoenl  # 2 | 21.06.2009 03:57

I feel for you. what a country Nigeria?

Anioma777  # 3 | 21.06.2009 05:12

The more I hear about the Akure-27 the more I am convinced that we are creations of the devil. Such self hate and unprecendented wickedness to one another is legendary. Well I hope something will be done to review their case at worst dismiss them from the army and let them get on with their lives. What a disgrace stealing money meant for men nad women who risked their lives abroad.:frown:

Bannister  # 4 | 21.06.2009 05:38

Ours indeed is a strange country. Some group of soldiers who protested (they called it mutiny) against the non - payment of their allowances are sentenced to life imprisonment whereas those, in the garb of politicians, who stole billions, and deserved to either be tied to stakes and shot or dispatched to Bama prison, were asked to plea bargain and given light jail sentences. Funny, very funny.

S. Njokede  # 5 | 21.06.2009 05:56

Yar´Adua´s Concentration Camp: Any country run by barbarians and barons suchlike the PDP outlaws, is bound to have gross inhumanity. The lower cadre people must stand up to the barons by hook or crook to overthrow them and free themselves from the yoke poured on them daily. Nowhere in history that class struggle has been worn by the kind of complacency that is now second nature to ordinary Nigerians. The barbarians in Aso Rock, Abuja and the 36-states should be chased away from powership in order for life, liberty and enjoyment of all to be guaranteed. The powers-that-be wont give away their comfort zones without a hard fight. How come corruption heavies in Nigeria are having swell time while juniour soldiers who protested to have what belong to them should rot in jail for life? Modesty forbid that these injustices trend on longer than necessary in Nigeria! Lower cadre army people should usurp this government via coup and free their jailed comrades from Yaradua´s concentration camp. Enough of Yaradua´s madness! www.punchbadleaders@yahoo.com

S. Njokede  # 6 | 21.06.2009 06:46

Yar´Adua´s Concentration Camp: Any country run by barbarians and barons suchlike the PDP outlaws, is bound to have gross inhumanity. The lower cadre people must stand up to the barons by hook or crook to overthrow them and free themselves from the yoke poured on them daily. Nowhere in history that class struggle has been worn by the kind of complacency that is now second nature to ordinary Nigerians. The barbarians in Aso Rock, Abuja and the 36-states should be chased away from powership in order for life, liberty and enjoyment of all to be guaranteed. The powers-that-be wont give away their comfort zones without a hard fight. How come corruption heavies in Nigeria are having swell time while juniour soldiers who protested to have what belong to them should rot in jail for life? Modesty forbid that these injustices trend on longer than necessary in Nigeria! Lower cadre army people should usurp this government via coup and free their jailed comrades from Yaradua´s concentration camp. Enough of Yaradua´s madness! www.punchbadleaders@yahoo.com

akuluouno  # 7 | 21.06.2009 08:20

Villagers, I have said it before and let me repeat it now, these young men and women were misled into carrying out this treasonable felony. Soldiering is not scouting or picnicking. Overtime in Nigeria, we have reduced institutions that make for civilisation to anything but what they ought to be. In 9ja, it is only the military and not football that holds the country together ( Aku's theory especially towards those who argue that it is football) and should incidents such as the one that led to the life jail for these young men and women, be allowed to fester, then it is bye bye to Nigeria and all the crude and gas in Niger Delta which is the basis for our petropatriotism and disealnationalism ab initio :D

I Love Nigeria  # 8 | 21.06.2009 11:16

What is a responsible military to do? Enforce discipline, order and cohesion. That is right, that is how it should be. Having said that: How is it though, that Nigerian elite who have been and are still ruining our country never get tried, jailed for life, court-marshalled, beheaded, executed and burned? Why these severest of punishments for these young soldiers? (Yes, I know the law is the law and it is blind) And the military is strict etc But when was the last time anyone was strict in Nigeria with Ibrahim Babangida or the former governor of Edo state Lucky Igbinedion or Orji Kalu, or Joshua Chibi Dariye, etc? These soldier committed mutiny and or treasonable felony OK, but 80% of the former governors of Nigeria's thirty-six states were to face trial as soon as they vacated office in 2007 upon losing their so-called immunity aka impunity! Why is the brutalities of laws in Nigeria always reserved for the weakest among our citizenry?

I Love Nigeria  # 9 | 21.06.2009 11:31

We Nigerians know all the imperfections of our present way of life at the same time we want justice applied equally to every one irrespective of rank and standing in society. As much as the army wants to send a message out to the force, the army should strive and stand for fairness. The humanity in us is not being kind when things are rosey, but from those acts we make in perilous times. One of the many tragedies of Nigeria today is how we waste lives of young people. Given my limited knowledge of the whole case I hope a campaign for an amnesty is justifiable.-Muhammed Bashiru (PhD The above comments encapsulates my feelings in this matter... the brutalities which our society seem to reserve for our poor and less fortunate.. the vehemence with which laws are enforced to the letter when the poor are the ones who have violated the laws or committed infractions against it It is said that the measure of a good society, a society which demonstrates human refinement... is indicative and illustrated .... ultimately, be how such society treat the poorest and most vulnerable of her citizens

pappilo  # 10 | 21.06.2009 11:36

Some people are dumb sha! I am sorry but that is the first thing that came to my mind when I read some of the replies. Because it is the military then people should work for free abi? If that was he case then the Nigeria Army can decide to stop paying its soldiers and officers in a cost cutting measure and since it is treason to complain about an not getting paid in the military, they will all continue working for free! I dont blame the military authorities at all. I blame the individuals who naively believed in the completely failed project called Nigeria and enlisted in the rag-tag Army. Maybe they didnt even believe in Nigeria at all, it is more than likely that 99% of them enlisted in order to escape crippling poverty. If they had been allowed to choose between joining the Nigerian (rag-tag) Army and the Army of a developed western country, we all know (except you want to fool yourself) which they would have chosen. Diseased bloody country! good riddance! Phew

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