The Nigerian Army has reportedly detained Major Shamsudeen Sani in solitary confinement in Maiduguri for months after he allegedly withdrew his troops from a threatened position during operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents.
The Nigerian Army has reportedly detained Major Shamsudeen Sani, a frontline officer who has spent years fighting insurgents in northeastern Nigeria, placing him in solitary confinement for months. The detention followed claims that the officer withdrew his troops from a position under heavy terrorist threat during operations against Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province.
A security source who spoke with SaharaReporters on Tuesday said the officer has been held incommunicado in Maiduguri without access to his family or legal representation. According to the source, Major Sani, who hails from Jalingo, was arrested after allegedly withdrawing his troops from a battlefield position during a counter-insurgency operation, an action military authorities reportedly interpreted as abandoning or overrunning his location.
“He is a brother of mine from Taraba State and his hometown is Jalingo,” the security source said. “He was shortlisted into the Nigerian Army Short Service Course in 2012 and since then he has always been posted to volatile areas of Maiduguri to fight Boko Haram insurgents and ISWAP.” The source added: “He has been arrested and detained by the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri and has been kept in solitary confinement for months over allegations that he overran his location. Is it a crime to tactically withdraw from a location to regroup or await reinforcement?”
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