A General Court Martial sitting at the Nigerian Army’s 82 Division Headquarters in Enugu has delivered a thunderous verdict: one soldier will pay with his life, another with a decade behind bars.

Private Adamu Mohammed has been sentenced to death by hanging for the cold-blooded murder of his girlfriend, Miss Hauwa Ali. His fellow soldier, Private Abubakar Yusuf, wasn’t spared either—he’s heading to prison for 10 years for his role in a brazen robbery at an Enugu mall.

The court martial, comprising 11 members and presided over by Brigadier General Sadisu Buhari, found the two soldiers guilty after a painstaking review of evidence, testimonies, and mitigation pleas.

Delivering the death sentence, Brig. Gen. Buhari said the panel found overwhelming evidence proving that Private Mohammed committed murder—an offence under Section 106(a) of the Armed Forces Act.

“The court carefully reviewed the facts, service record of the accused, and his plea for mercy. But justice for the victim and societal sanity demanded the full weight of the law,” he declared. “Private Adamu Mohammed is hereby sentenced to death by hanging.”

In a separate verdict, the court found Private Yusuf guilty of armed robbery under Section 107(1)(b) of the same Act. Though the panel could not reach a unanimous decision for the maximum punishment as required by law, they handed down a 10-year prison term under Section 140(3).

Brig. Gen. Buhari clarified: “Despite the plea for leniency, the offence committed not only stained the reputation of the Nigerian Army but threatened public safety. The sentence serves as a warning.”

Both sentences are pending confirmation by higher military authorities, as is standard practice.

The Army, through its spokesperson Lt. Colonel Jonah Unuakhalu, reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance on indiscipline and criminality within its ranks.

“These acts are disgraceful and do not represent the values of the Nigerian Army,” Unuakhalu said. “We remain committed to maintaining professionalism, enforcing discipline, and protecting public trust.”

With this judgment, the Army has sent a loud and clear message—no uniform is a shield for wrongdoing, and justice will be served, no matter who wears the boots.