By Austin Ogwuda
…. another Soldier arrested for faking own kidnap in Onitsha
FOUR Soldiers have been found guilty of stealing and selling Military-grade weapons and ammunition to criminals across the States.
7 Division’s Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Haruna Sani disclosed this in a Press statement on Tuesday.
According to him, The Nigerian Army Special Court Martial has sentenced three soldiers to life imprisonment for illegal arms trafficking, “aiding and abetting the enemy”, while another Soldiers was convicted to 15 years jail term.
The statement reads: “The Special Court Martial (SCM) convened by the Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division Nigerian Army and Sector 1 Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) Brigadier General Ugochukwu Unachukwu has slammed, 2 Senior Non-commissioned Officers and 2 Non-Commissioned Officers for Arms/Ammunition racketeering as well as Aiding and Abetting the Enemy.
“Pronouncing the verdict during the proceeding at Headquarters Theatre Command Officers’ Mess in Maiduguri, on 18 September 2025, the President SCM Brigadier General Mohammed Abdullahi stated that, the Court-Martial convicted Sgt Rapheal Ameh, Sgt Ejiga Musa, and LCpl Patrick Ocheje to life imprisonments while Cpl Omitoye Rufus was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to several counts charges ranging from theft, unlawful dealing in ammunition, offence in relation to Service Property as well as aiding the enemy which are all punishable under the relevant sections of the Armed Forces Act (AFA) Law of Federation of Nigeria (LFN) CAP A20 2004 and other extant laws”.
Providing further details, Haruna said, in the case of Sgt Ameh Raphael, a documentary evidence admitted before the Court revealed that as an Armourer with 7 Division Garrison, the SNCO conspired with late LCpl Ogbogo Isaac to pilfer ammunition from the Division arms store.
”It was further revealed that he collaborated with one Inspector Francis Ajayi and Francis Manasseh, all of the 30 Police Mobile Force (PMF), to conceal arms in bags of beans and smuggled them to Enugu and Ebonyi States for use by criminals”, the statement added.
…. another Soldier arrested for faking own kidnap in Onitsha
In another development, the
Anambra State Police Command said it has has arrested a serving Soldier for allegedly faking his own abduction in a bid to extort ₦20 million from his family.
The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Samuel Ekezie, a personnel of the 302 Artillery Regiment of the Nigerian Army, Onitsha, was nabbed on the 15th of this month September).
The Command’s Spokesperson, Ikenga Tochukwu, a Superintendent of Police SP disclosed in a press statement.
He stated that “Preliminary investigations revealed that on August 15, 2025, Ekezie sent a text message to his family claiming he had been kidnapped and demanding a ransom of ₦20 million for his release.
“But acting on technology-driven intelligence, operatives tracked and arrested the suspect at his hideout in Rivers State.
“The Command assured the public of a thorough investigation into the matter, stating its commitment to ensuring justice is served”, the statement added.
*Source: Punch
