Lance Corporal John Gabriel and Lance Corporal Adamu Gideon have been dismissed for killing Sheikh Goni Aisami Gashua, an Islamic cleric in Yobe state.
The dismissed soldiers have confessed to the killing of the cleric and stealing his vehicle.
This was disclosed by the acting commander, officer in charge, of 241 Reece battalion, Nguru, Yobe State, Lt Col. Ibrahim Osabo.
He said a joint board of inquiry set up in collaboration with the police had found them guilty.
He said the two soldiers were dismissed on a two-count charge of failure to perform duties and conduct prejudice to service discipline.
Osabo said the dismissed soldiers will be handed over to the police in Damaturu for prosecution in court of law.
– Cold blood murder –
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE had reported how Sheikh Aisami was murdered by the soldiers after he gave one of them a lift.
Spokesperson of Yobe state police command, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, said the soldiers had attempted to steal the deceased’s car before their eventual arrest.
He said the incident occurred at about 10pm on August 20 after Aisami gave one of the suspects a lift.
He explained that Aisami was driving his car to Gashua from Nguru, when the principal suspect who was in mufti and carrying a camp bed, pleaded with him for a lift to Jaji-Maji.
“On approaching Jaji-Maji, the cleric stopped the car to urinate,” he said, adding however that as soon as he returned to continue the journey, the principal suspect brought out an AK-47 and shot him twice to death.
Abdulkarim further said that the suspect tried to flee with the deceased’s car but failed, as it got stuck in a mud and the vehicle failed to start.
“He put a call through to the second suspect, who drove another vehicle to the scene. Unfortunately for him, his drive shaft broke.
“The two suspects then requested for help from a vigilance group in Jaji-Maji.
“When the group arrived the scene to tow the broken down vehicles, incidentally Aisami’s body was found at the scene,” the police spokesman said.
Abdulkarim said it was the vigilance group that drew the attention of the police and the suspects, who said they were soldiers, were arrested.
He said the police had recovered the gun and the two cars, adding that effort was being made to confirm the identity of the suspects.
