Court martial sentences soldier to death by hanging for murder of tricycle rider

A General Court Martial sitting at Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Jos, Plateau State, has sentenced Private Lukman Musa of the 3 Division, Nigerian Army, to death by hanging for the murder of a tricycle rider, Abdulrahman Isa, in Azare, Bauchi State.

The court, presided over by Brigadier General Liafis Bello, on Thursday, September 18, 2025, found Musa guilty of culpable homicide, murder, and unlawful possession of ammunition, after weeks of trial and presentation of evidence by military prosecutors.

According to the prosecution, Musa, together with an accomplice identified only as Oba, lured Isa to his residence under the pretense of helping him move personal belongings. Evidence before the court showed that Musa struck Isa on the head with a wooden object before strangling him to death.

The soldier then stuffed the victim’s remains in a sack and dumped the body between Shira and Yala villages. Isa’s tricycle was later sold.

The court also uncovered that Musa was unlawfully in possession of 34 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, a violation of military and civil law.

Delivering judgment, Brig. Gen. Bello described Musa’s conduct as “barbaric and heartless,” emphasizing that the crime violated both military ethics and the Nigerian Army’s constitutional responsibility to protect civilians.

“You mercilessly metamorphosed from a defender of citizens to a killer. Your action is an embarrassment and disgrace to the Nigerian Army,” Gen. Bello declared.

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The court subsequently sentenced Musa to death by hanging for culpable homicide under Section 220 of the Penal Code, punishable by Section 221. He was also handed a two-year prison term for unlawful possession of ammunition and dismissed from the Nigerian Army with ignominy.

Speaking after the verdict, the Acting Deputy Director of Legal Services, 3 Division, Major Aminu Mairuwa, said the ruling underscored the Army’s zero-tolerance stance on criminality within its ranks.

“This judgment reflects the Nigerian Army’s commitment to discipline, accountability, and justice. It sends a strong message that no personnel is above the law or permitted to operate outside established codes of conduct,” Mairuwa stated.

The case has drawn attention across military and civilian circles, with observers noting that the judgment reinforces the Army’s efforts to rebuild public trust amid ongoing internal security challenges.