A Nigerian Army court martial has sentenced a Staff Sergeant, Umar Sule, to two years imprisonment for brutalizing ten-year old Mohammed Saleh in Maiduguri.
The soldier was accused of tying the minor to a pole and beating him severally for about seven hours after he caught him stealing his N2,000.
The little boy was said to have sustained serious injuries which led to one of his arms being amputated as a result of the brutality.
The matter was reported to the National Human Rights Commission, which took the matter to the army authorities.
Sule, aside being handed a jail term, was also demoted to the rank of Private.
President of the court martial set up by the Nigerian Army at the 7 Division Maiduguri, Olusegun Adeniyi, said the court arrived at the decision after considering so many factors.
Adeniyi stated that the court took into consideration the fact that the accused was a first offender and had been in the Nigerian Army since 1999, as well as served in various conflict missions at home and abroad.
He said the defence counsel also argued that the accused was deployed to Operation Lafiya Dole and was willing to serve the Nigerian Army and the country dedicatedly and that he has never committed any offence.
The defence had equally argued that Sule had shown sign of remorse and had pleaded guilty.
Adeniyi noted that the accused person was sentenced based on the Nigerian Army rules and laws of 1972 and 1974 respectively on two count charges subject to confirmation by the confirming authority of the Nigerian Army as required by the law.
All the parties in the suit appeared satisfied with the ruling.
An officer of the National Human Rights Commission, North east Zone, Jummai Mshelia, said the proceedings of the court were fair and transparent and in compliance with the rule of law and human rights violation consideration.
She commended the Nigerian Army and Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai for constituting the Court Marshal, adding that she would forward the verdict of the court to the NHRC headquarters Abuja for perusal.