Army reinstates 3,032 dismissed soldiers

‎The army has reinstated 3,032 out of the 5,000 dismissed soldiers whose cases were reviewed recently.

Sani Usman, spokesman of the army, made the confirmation to TheCable on Thursday.

Usman subsequently released a statement saying the Nigerian army some time ago instituted a committee to review the recent disciplinary cases in the service especially of those soldiers in the defunct OP ZAMAN LAFIYA, the aim of which was to ensure discipline, regimentation and justice in the system.

“The committee has concluded its sitting last week and has made certain recommendation that led to the reinstatement of 3,032 soldiers into the Nigerian army out of 5,000 cases that were reviewed. The reinstated soldiers have shown their total readiness to be re-launched into theatre to combat insurgency and have now commenced a re-training exercise at the Nigerian Army Training Centre, Kontagora, Niger State,” he said.

“This training is to re-orient the affected soldiers and prepare them for this closing stage of the operational aspect of the counter-insurgency operations with more weapons and new leadership.”

However, he said soldiers with criminal cases, perhaps, implying those sentenced‎ to death for mutiny, did not get a reprieve.

“It must, however, be made clear that not all the dismissed soldiers were granted pardon and recalled. Those with criminal cases for instance, have their sentences upheld,” he said.

He also said that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the award of military honours to the service chiefs.

“‎I wish to inform you that the President, Commander-in-Chief has approved the award of Nigerian Army Medal (NAM) to the Chief of Defence Staff, General GA Olonisakin and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General TY Buratai,” the army spokesman said.

“Similarly, the new Director of Military Intelligence (DMI) Brigadier General ASH Sa’ad has been honoured with the Republic of Mali Award of Mali Knight of National Order for his exceptional conduct while he served as Nigerian Military Attache in that country. The Chief of Army Staff had congratulated him for doing the nation proud.

“In a related development, Lagos State Government is also honouring some officers and soldiers of 19 Battalion for their role that led to the bursting of a notorious robbery gang that terrorised the State.

“The Nigeria army is quite aware of the misunderstanding between some misguided soldiers and the general public. I want to state here that we are striving hard to improve our relationship with public and we would not tolerate any act of indiscipline or misconduct from our troops. Therefore, I want to assure the public that in line with our procedures, we are taking appropriate measures to prevent such happenings and sanction all those involved.

“We would like to reassure the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and indeed the good people of our great nation that we would definitely meet up with the 3-month deadline and do the nation proud.

“We would also like to commend the tremendous sacrifice and gallantry of our troops in the various theatres of operations and assure them that the leadership of the Nigerian Army is solidly behind them and doing all it could to enhance their welfare, performance and general well being. As a matter of fact, as usual, the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General TY Buratai would be visiting them in the frontline very soon.

“The Nigeria army monthly route march for the month of September will take place on Friday, 4th September 2015 across formations and units of the Nigerian Army all over the country. In Abuja, the exercise will kick start by 05:30 am. The exercise which will start at the Guards Brigade Sports Complex, Aguiyi Ironsi Cantonment, will be conducted along the Murtala Mohammed Expressway – Niger Barracks to 7 Guards Battalion, Lungi Barracks and then back to the starting point through the same route.

“In Abuja, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, will lead the Principal Staff Officers, senior officers and soldiers for the exercise. The monthly route march is part of COAS effort to sharpen the responsiveness of troops of the Nigerian Army through restoration of regimental activities. The public is advised not to panic on sighting heavy presence of troops on the mentioned route.”