A soldier serving in Operation Lafiya Dole has been sentenced to death by a General Court Martial (GOC) sitting in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The soldier, Lance Corporal John Godwin was sentenced to death for killing five rescued civilians in the Yamteke area of Borno State.

Some other soldiers were also jailed by the court for various offences ranging from manslaughter to illegal possession of fire arms and ammunition.

Corporal John Godwin was charged with murder, punishable under Section 106 (a) of Armed Forces Acts (Cap A20), Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004.

The 7 Division’s spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Kingsley Samuel, while confirming the sentence said, “The civilians were earlier rescued by troops of Godwin’s battalion and were taken for investigation at the time he shot and killed five of them.

“Another soldier, Sergeant Innocent Ototo, was sentenced to life imprisonment for manslaughter after torturing and killing a 13-year-old boy who he said stole his phone.

”The incident happened at Zamanbari area of Maiduguri in Borno State.”