The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has appealed to the Nigerian Army and the Federal Government to release the gratuities and other entitlements of the 54 soldiers who were tried over a decade ago for demanding better weapons to confront Boko Haram.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, 13 January 2026, MURIC recalled that the soldiers were initially sentenced to death by a military court, a punishment later commuted to 10 years’ imprisonment. They were eventually granted a presidential pardon in 2022 and formally discharged in 2025.
According to the organisation, the soldiers are contesting the discharge date recorded as 2014, insisting it should reflect 2025, given that they remained in detention until their pardon and final discharge. MURIC added that the affected soldiers are seeking payment of their rightful entitlements, noted claims that a senior officer pardoned alongside them had already been paid.
MURIC’s founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, said the organisation has followed the case on humanitarian grounds since the soldiers were first sentenced to death, stressed that it has no personal ties to them.
He urged the Nigerian Army to act with compassion and due diligence by settling the soldiers’ benefits, describing them as able-bodied men with family responsibilities who deserve closure after years of hardship.
The appeal renews public attention on the long-running case, as calls grow for a definitive resolution in line with the soldiers’ pardon and service records.
