97 Soldiers Face Charges in Nigeria

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/03/world/africa/97-soldiers-face-charges-in-nigeria-.html

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ABUJA, Nigeria — A court-martial panel on Thursday began hearing charges against 97 soldiers, including 16 officers, accused of mutiny, assault, cowardice and refusing to fight against the country’s northeastern uprising by Islamic insurgents.

The mass trial comes two weeks after 12 soldiers were sentenced to death by firing squad for mutiny and attempted murder of their commander.

Troops regularly have complained that they are outgunned by insurgents of the group Boko Haram, that they are not paid in full and that they are abandoned on the battlefield without enough ammunition or food.

Endemic corruption in Nigeria means millions of dollars goes missing from the budget to fight the five-year-old Islamic uprising that has killed thousands.

Some soldiers have said that some of their colleagues collude with the insurgents, giving them weapons and information.