Ex-Soldier Says He Was Punished for Raising His Hand After Attack That Killed 117 Colleagues

Ex-Soldier said:

I never did anything wrong. Just that after an attack that claimed 117 of my buddies, Our brigade commander came to address us, those of us that survived, when we were at our concentration area at Gubiyo, when he came to address us. After his address, he now asked, if there is any question. I raised my hand, same thing did some other soldiers. He now asked me to come out. As I come out, expecting to ask the question, I was disarmed and taken to my a containment, where I was like chained and handcuffed.

After 10 days, my commanding officer came and asked me that I am charged for disobedience to a particular order. And I asked, sir, you were there when the commander asked if there is any question, and I raised my hand, and not only me. He said that his hands are tied, that there is nothing he can do. I have been writing for years now. My family, my children are out of school. As I am, I don’t have home.

It’s just any way I see I squat, so as to make a living. As a soldier, I know, I dedicated myself right from my childhood, as a youth, right from the age of 18 years. That is when I joined this job. Since 2003, I have participated in different operations. I have participated in hybrid operations in the four regions.

I have participated in operations in different internal operations, and especially that of Medugorje. I was of 118th Task Force Battalion. At that operation, that general that dismissed us, his name is General Jamilo Sarham. He dismissed about 300 and something soldiers. If you need the names, I can bring out their names from 118th and 157th Task Force Battalion in Maiduguri, Baga.”