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| Nigerian general jailed over Boko Haram attack on Baga | Nigerian general jailed over Boko Haram attack on Baga |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A military court in Nigeria has sentenced a general to six months in jail for his involvement in one of the army's worst defeats by Boko Haram. | A military court in Nigeria has sentenced a general to six months in jail for his involvement in one of the army's worst defeats by Boko Haram. |
| Gen Enitan Ransome-Kuti was convicted of failing in his duties when Islamist militants attacked the north-eastern town of Baga in January. | Gen Enitan Ransome-Kuti was convicted of failing in his duties when Islamist militants attacked the north-eastern town of Baga in January. |
| Scores of civilians were killed when Boko Haram overran the town and seized large quantities of weapons. | Scores of civilians were killed when Boko Haram overran the town and seized large quantities of weapons. |
| The general's lawyer told the BBC that he will appeal against the decision. | The general's lawyer told the BBC that he will appeal against the decision. |
| A separate accusation of cowardice was dropped. | A separate accusation of cowardice was dropped. |
| The exact number of those killed in the Baga attack remains unknown, but claims vary from the government's official figure of 150 to up to 2,000 reported by locals. | |
| According to Amnesty International, at least 17,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since 2009, when Boko Haram launched its violent uprising to try to impose militant Islamist rule. | According to Amnesty International, at least 17,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since 2009, when Boko Haram launched its violent uprising to try to impose militant Islamist rule. |
| With the help of regional armies, the Nigerian military has this year retaken most areas Boko Haram had captured. | With the help of regional armies, the Nigerian military has this year retaken most areas Boko Haram had captured. |
| Analysis: Jimmy Saleh, BBC Hausa Service | |
| The military court in the capital Abuja said Brigadier Gen Ransome-Kuti was right to have asked his troops to retreat in the face of overwhelming firepower, but he should have called for reinforcements and launched a counter-attack to reclaim the town. | |
| Hundreds of people were massacred by Boko Haram in Baga in January 2015 when Gen Ransome-Kuti and his men ran away from the town. | |
| This was one of the biggest defeats suffered by the Nigerian army at the hands of Boko Haram, given the number of people killed and the high-calibre weapons gained by the insurgents. | |
| The militants also detained many women in Baga whom they used as sex slaves. | |
| The army's reputation has been affected by a series of mutinies by troops who on several occasions abandoned their weapons and fled the insurgents. | |
| Today's sentence is intended to help restore discipline, which many think has been lacking within the ranks of the troops. | |
| Some of the troops complained they were not being given the equipment needed to fight Boko Haram but more weapons have now been supplied. | |
| Islamic State ties broaden Boko Haram threat | |
| Who are Boko Haram? |