A Nigerian soldier who developed cold feet and ran away from Boko Haram insurgency for one year has been sent to jail.
*Photo used for illustrative purpose*
The Nigeria Army general court martial sitting in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Wednesday jailed a private soldier, Egbechi Oze, for 14 months for absconding from his duty post for about 270 days, while taking refuge somewhere in southeast Nigeria.
The soldier went missing after the military base he was posted to was attacked by Boko Haram members. He was said to have fled to the southern part of Nigeria while enjoying his emoluments for nearly one year.
He was also charged for not accounting for his rifle and cache of ammunitions he signed to be in his possession during the attack on Gwoza.
He was however acquitted for the missing rifle and ammunition on the grounds that he lost possession of them when he was abducted by Boko Haram insurgents before soldiers attacked the place.
The court explained that a soldier that is jailed by the court marshal, stands dismissed as such soldier cannot be reabsorbed into the Nigeria Army.