Boko Haram: Islamic group sends message to Aregbesola over 54 soldiers in jail

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has appealed to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Rauf Aregbesola to release the soldiers arrested in 2014 for daring to complain to their commander that their weapons were too poor to confront better equipped Boko Haram fighters.

Recall that the soldiers, who had earlier lost 23 men and four officers due to poor equipment when they advanced on Damboa on 9thJuly, 2014, demanded better supplies when they were ordered to return to the battle front again without improved weaponry.

They were sentenced to death in December 2014 for complaining and refusing to obey the last order but this was later commuted to ten years imprisonment.

Aregbesola had recently pledged to decongest Nigeria’s correctional facilities within six months.

Although the minister laid emphasis on awaiting trial inmates, the Islamic human rights group wants him to extend the reprieve to those serving prison sentences, particularly the 54 soldiers.

MURIC made the appeal in a statement signed and made available to DAILY POST on Monday by its Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The statement added, “The honourable minister has good intentions and the idea is quite laudable, visionary and humane. Available data indicates that more than 70% of inmates of correctional centres are awaiting trials.

hn Owen