Nigerian military authorities on Monday started the trial of 22 soldiers in Lagos, for alleged negligence and complicity in the invasion of the 21 Artillery Brigade, Bama, by Boko Haram insurgents on September 2, 2014.

A Brigadier General, four colonels, seven Lt. Cols, and 10 other officers of the Nigerian Army are those facing trial.

The trial is seen as one of the biggest in the recent military court martial, having for the first time, 23 very senior officers of the service.

Their offences border on the counter-insurgency operations in the north-eastern part of the oil rich nation, where members of a terrorist group are trying to establish an Islamic State.

The prosecution is holding at the 81 Division, GCM, Lagos.

According to reports, the trial would be presided over by Major General S. Aliyu.

Accusations against the 22 soldiers range from cowardly behaviour, failure to perform military duty, negligent performance of military duties and other offences relating to service property, among others.

According to military sources, offence of cowardly behaviour attracts the death penalty while other offences attract nothing less than two years imprisonment.

Meanwhile, the military has started investigations into the Boko Haram invasion of the 21 Artillery Brigade, Bama, shortly after the barracks fell to the insurgents, who were said to have carted away large quantity of arms and ammunition.

The military leaders were said to be of the view that the insurgents did not encounter the expected degree of resistance before overrunning the barracks.

•Text courtesy of Channels TV. Photo shows a court martial in session.

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