By Gabriel Ameh
In a landmark judgment designed to curb internal sabotage and strengthen national security, a Special Court Martial (SCM) of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri has sentenced four soldiers to life imprisonment and other jail terms for arms and ammunition racketeering, aiding the enemy, and related offences.
The ruling was delivered on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at the Headquarters Theatre Command Officers’ Mess, Maiduguri, by a court convened by the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division Nigerian Army and Sector 1 Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Brigadier General Ugochukwu Unachukwu.
Announcing the verdict, the President of the Special Court Martial, Brigadier General Mohammed Abdullahi, said the soldiers were found guilty of offences that endangered troops, compromised counterterrorism operations, and undermined national security.
The Convicted Soldiers
Sergeant Raphael Ameh – sentenced to life imprisonment
Sergeant Ejiga Musa – sentenced to life imprisonment
Lance Corporal Patrick Ocheje – sentenced to life imprisonment
Corporal Omitoye Rufus – sentenced to 15 years imprisonment
The court found them guilty of theft, illegal dealings in ammunition, offences relating to service property, and aiding the enemy, contrary to the Armed Forces Act (AFA), CAP A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
How the Network Operated
Investigations revealed that the illegal arms ring spanned multiple states and involved collusion between rogue soldiers and police operatives.
Sgt Raphael Ameh, an armourer with 7 Division Garrison, conspired with late LCpl Ogbogo Isaac to divert ammunition from the division’s arms store. He worked with police officers to conceal stolen weapons in bags of beans, which were smuggled to Enugu and Ebonyi states for sale. Bank records linked him to over 100 suspicious transactions between July 2022 and June 2024.
Sgt Ejiga Musa, main armourer of 195 Battalion, stole weapons and collaborated with others to sell rifles and ammunition, pocketing over ₦500,000. He was eventually caught while attempting to sell to a police inspector already under investigation.
Cpl Omitoye Rufus sold 40 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition to a police officer.
LCpl Patrick Ocheje, deployed at Forward Operating Base Molai, supplied ammunition to militias involved in communal clashes and terrorist groups. He was also found guilty of stealing an AK-47 rifle from a fellow soldier.
Court’s Position
Brigadier General Abdullahi condemned their conduct as “a betrayal of the Nigerian Army,” stressing that their actions directly endangered military personnel and operations.
“These actions amount to aiding the enemy and cannot be tolerated. They violated the trust, discipline, and honour expected of soldiers,” he said.
Army’s Zero-Tolerance Policy
The Nigerian Army reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on corruption and illegal arms dealings.
“No soldier is permitted to sell or transfer ammunition to adversaries or any individual under any guise,” Brigadier General Abdullahi emphasized, assuring Nigerians of continued accountability and professionalism.
Broader Implications
Security analysts hailed the judgment as a critical step in restoring integrity within the military and safeguarding ongoing counterterrorism operations.
Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), headquartered in Maiduguri, is Nigeria’s main counterterrorism mission against Boko Haram and ISWAP. Analysts noted that the actions of the convicted soldiers were particularly damaging given the strategic role of 7 Division in the North-East.
The sentencing sends a strong signal that the Nigerian Army will not condone betrayal or collusion with enemies of the state. As the country continues to confront insurgency and organised crime, this ruling underscores the importance of discipline, accountability, and vigilance within the Armed Forces.
