Private Mohammed Idris, a medical personnel member of the Nigerian Army, has been in detention for nine months without trial or formal charges after exposing his colleague’s alleged ties to Boko Haram. Multiple sources close to the matter revealed that the case highlights growing concerns about arbitrary detentions within the military.
Idris, with military number 19NA/78/3048, serves at the 7 Division Medical Hospital in Maiduguri, Borno State, a region at the epicenter of Nigeria’s fight against terrorism. He reportedly alerted military authorities after discovering that Corporal Agbo, a military police officer, had used his phone to facilitate communications between a detained Boko Haram member and the terrorist’s contacts.
How It Happened
According to sources, Idris had handed his phone to Agbo, who claimed he needed it for an emergency call. Unbeknownst to Idris, Agbo gave the phone to a Boko Haram detainee in a hospital to contact family and other operatives. Days later, a call from one of the detainee’s contacts to Idris’ phone prompted Idris to raise an alarm and report the incident.
Both Idris and Agbo were subsequently detained. However, an investigation reportedly revealed that Agbo had received payments from the brother of the Boko Haram detainee in exchange for facilitating communication. Despite this revelation, Corporal Agbo was released after three months and reinstated into service, while Idris has remained in detention since just before Ramadan in early 2024.
Allegations of Cover-Up
Sources claim Idris has been subjected to physical abuse and pressure from senior military personnel to change his initial statement and admit to offenses he did not commit. When he refused, he was transferred to a different detention facility, known as Annex, in Maiduguri.
One source described how the military police attempted to frame Idris:
“This soldier was detained for exposing a military police officer. However, the case was twisted against him, and he was accused of crimes he had no knowledge of. The prime suspect, Corporal Agbo, who gave the phone to the Boko Haram member, has been released and reabsorbed into duty.”
A Worrying Pattern
The case underscores a troubling pattern of arbitrary detentions within Nigeria’s military. SaharaReporters previously detailed similar cases, including soldiers being detained for years without trial or court-martial. The trend has raised questions about accountability and fairness within the armed forces, especially as Nigeria continues to grapple with terrorism and insecurity.
In June 2024, an ex-military personnel, Lance Corporal Martins Idakpini, accused the military of illegally detaining soldiers for extended periods without due process. Similarly, Sergeant Zachariah Ismaila was arrested in January 2024 and held without being informed of his alleged offenses.
Calls for Investigation
Advocates are calling on the Chief of Defense Staff, General SG Musa, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General O.O. Oluyede, to investigate Idris’ case. The prolonged detention without trial has sparked concerns over the impact on troop morale and operational efficiency in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.
Efforts to reach the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 7 Division, Brigadier General AGL Haruna, for comments were unsuccessful, as calls to his mobile line went unanswered.
The detention of Idris and the reinstatement of Agbo raise pressing questions about justice and integrity within the Nigerian Army. For now, Private Mohammed Idris remains in custody, a whistleblower caught in the crossfire of a system plagued by allegations of corruption and injustice.
