General Court Martial sitting at Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Jos, 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 Bauchi State.

The court, presided over by Brigadier General Liafis Bello, delivered the verdict on Thursday, September 18, 2025. Musa was found guilty of murder, culpable homicide, and unlawful possession of ammunition.

According to court proceedings, Musa, in company with an accomplice identified as Oba, lured Isa to his residence under the pretext of helping him move belongings. He then struck the victim on the head with a wooden object and strangled him to death. The body was later stuffed in a sack and dumped between Shira and Yala villages, while Isa’s tricycle was sold. Musa was also found in possession of 34 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition without authorization.

In his ruling, Gen. Bello described Musa’s actions as “barbaric and heartless,”s tressing that he had betrayed the Army’s core responsibility of protecting citizens. “You mercilessly metamorphosed from a defender of citizens to a killer. Your action is an embarrassment and disgrace to the Nigerian Army,” he declared.

The soldier was sentenced under Section 220 of the Penal Code and is to face death by hanging, in line with Section 221.