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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Nigerian soldiers given death penalty for mutiny | Nigerian soldiers given death penalty for mutiny |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A Nigerian court martial has sentenced 54 soldiers to death for refusing to fight Boko Haram Islamist militants. | A Nigerian court martial has sentenced 54 soldiers to death for refusing to fight Boko Haram Islamist militants. |
| The soldiers, who were found guilty of mutiny, were accused of refusing to help recapture three towns that had been seized by Boko Haram in August. | The soldiers, who were found guilty of mutiny, were accused of refusing to help recapture three towns that had been seized by Boko Haram in August. |
| A lawyer for the soldiers said the 54 would face a firing squad. Five others were acquitted. | |
| Troops have complained that they are not being given enough weapons and ammunition to fight Boko Haram. | Troops have complained that they are not being given enough weapons and ammunition to fight Boko Haram. |
| The group has been waging an insurgency since 2009 and is seeking to create an Islamist state in north-eastern Nigeria. | The group has been waging an insurgency since 2009 and is seeking to create an Islamist state in north-eastern Nigeria. |
| More than 2,000 people have died in attacks blamed on Boko Haram so far this year and thousands more have been displaced by the fighting. | More than 2,000 people have died in attacks blamed on Boko Haram so far this year and thousands more have been displaced by the fighting. |
| The court martial began in October and was conducted behind closed doors. Military officials were not available for comment afterwards. | The court martial began in October and was conducted behind closed doors. Military officials were not available for comment afterwards. |
| Defence lawyer Femi Falana said the soldiers were all accused of "conspiring to commit mutiny against the authorities of 7 Division, Nigerian Army". | Defence lawyer Femi Falana said the soldiers were all accused of "conspiring to commit mutiny against the authorities of 7 Division, Nigerian Army". |
| All the soldiers had denied the charges and the sentence is subject to approval by senior officers. | All the soldiers had denied the charges and the sentence is subject to approval by senior officers. |
| In a similar case in September, 12 soldiers were sentenced to death for mutiny and the attempted murder of a commanding officer in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri. | In a similar case in September, 12 soldiers were sentenced to death for mutiny and the attempted murder of a commanding officer in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri. |