Lance Corporal Hillary Joel sentenced to death for killing Boko Haram suspect
-The army general court martial in Borno state passes a death sentence on Lance Corporal Hillary Joel for killing a Boko Haram suspect
- Hillary Joel reportedly set the suspect ablaze during a cordon and search operation leading to his death
- Other soldiers who faced the court martial with him got different sanctions A soldier, Lance Corporal Hillary Joel, has been sentenced to death by the Nigerian Army for killing a suspected Boko Haram terrorist. The suspect was said to have died following the incident. Other soldiers who faced the court martial with him were handed different sanctions, including jail terms and demotions. According to a statement on Friday, June 9, by the deputy director army public relations 7 division, Lieutenant Colonel Kingsley Samuel, the judgements were announced by the president of the court , Brigadier General Olusegun Adeniyi
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Highlighting the conclusion of the court on the cases of the 5 soldiers, the statement read: "The court sentenced of reduction in rank to Private in 2 count charges for Sergaent Samuel Balanga who is convicted for desertion and miscellaneous offences. "Similarly, the court sentenced Private Chima Samuel who was convicted for aiding and abetting murder of a minor Yakubu Isah in Maiduguri to 15 years imprisonment. Lance Corporal Hilary Joel who was convicted for murder of a suspected Boko Haram terrorist in Damboa was sentenced to death. Also Corporal Aliu Audu who was charged for assault was reduced to the rank of Private.The representative of the National Human Rights Commission present in court, Barrister Jumai Usman Mshelia, commended the Nigerian Army for the transparency in the trial of the a accused soldiers
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Barrister Mshelia who is the commission acting zonal coordinator in Borno state expressed delight that the Nigerian Army has shown that it is a discipline organisation and airing personnel are tried for wrong doing. She said she was happy that justice had been served.
