Several Nigerian soldiers, numbering at least 142, have been detained in Maiduguri, Borno State for over 10 months without trial.
Some of these soldiers have been serving on the war front for over six years without leave, and others have not been allowed to visit their families for the past three years.
According to sources, some soldiers were accused of stealing bullets, while others lost their guns to terrorists or committed various offences. Despite recommendations from military lawyers to release approximately 20 soldiers due to the minor nature of their cases, they remain detained.
It is reported that some of the soldiers have been stationed at the front between 2017 and 2018 without rotation or transfer, leading to fatigue and mental health issues among them.
The soldiers also revealed that their welfare and feeding arrangements depend solely on the garrison or brigade commanders, with some soldiers not having been able to see their families for years. Some soldiers mentioned that their wives had left them for other men, including their colleagues in the barracks.
The troops in Bama, Borno State are in need of additional personnel to combat insurgents, as they face attacks from well-equipped enemy forces. Some soldiers have expressed concerns about the lack of interest from certain garrison or brigade commanders in the welfare and promotion of the troops.
Family members of the detained soldiers have lamented the situation, expressing emotional distress due to their inability to see their loved ones for several years. Efforts to reach the Director of Army Public Relations for a response to these allegations have been unsuccessful.
