54 Nigerian soldiers sentenced to death for mutiny

54 Nigerian soldiers have been sentenced to death for by firing squad for mutiny, cowardice, assault, and refusing to fight Boko Haram, the Islamic extremists by a General Court Martial sitting at the Army Headquarters garrison in Abuja, Nigeria.

The soldiers were convicted Wednesday in Abuja on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy to commit mutiny. They were the first batch of 97 soldiers being court martialed. All the court-martial charges were connected to the soldiers' refusal to deploy to recapture three towns seized by Boko Haram in August.

The soldiers, attached to the 7 Division, Nigerian Army in Maiduguri include two Corporals, Cpl, nine Lance Corporals, LCpl and 49 Private soldiers.

Troops have complained that they are not being given enough weapons and ammunition to fight Boko Haram. The lawyer for the condemned men, Femi Falana, said the 54 soldiers were convicted and sentenced to death by firing squad. He said five soldiers were acquitted.

All the soldiers had denied the charges and the sentence is subject to approval by senior officers.

Falana’s team plans to appeal the decision against the convicted soldiers that came late yesterday