In a ruling that has sent shockwaves through military circles and beyond, a General Court Martial convened at the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army in Enugu has sentenced a young soldier, Private Adamu Mohammed, to death by hanging for the gruesome murder of his girlfriend, Hauwa Ali.
The tragic incident occurred on April 11, 2024, within the supposedly secure confines of the Enugu Army barracks.
Hauwa’s lifeless body—clothed in a hijab—was discovered the next day near the officers’ quarters by the daughter of a senior officer, piercing the serenity of the barracks with the harsh reality of violence.
More than a year after the chilling discovery, military justice has caught up with Mohammed.
According to a statement issued by Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Unuakhalu, Acting Deputy Director of Public Relations for the 82 Division, the Court Martial’s decision followed a rigorous trial process.
The court, comprised of 11 senior military officers, found Private Mohammed guilty of murder under Section 106(a) of the Armed Forces Act.
“The judgment was unanimous,” said Brigadier General Sadisu Buhari, President of the Court. “Despite the mitigating pleas and the soldier’s service record, justice for the deceased and the need to uphold the moral fabric of society could not be ignored.”
The court’s proceedings, which began in February 2025, underscore the Nigerian Army’s ongoing efforts to maintain discipline within its ranks.
General Buhari added that the punishment—death by hanging—reflects the seriousness of the offence and sends a strong message about accountability in uniform.
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In a related case, the same Court Martial sentenced another soldier, Private Abubakar Yusuf, to 10 years in prison for robbery at a mall in Enugu.
Though found guilty under Section 107(1)(b) of the Armed Forces Act, the panel could not reach the unanimity required for a harsher sentence.
Instead, leveraging Section 140(3), they imposed the 10-year term as a compromise rooted in both justice and legal procedure.
Both rulings are pending confirmation by higher military authorities, but the message is clear: the Army is determined to root out criminality from its fold.
“The actions of these individuals do not reflect the values of the Nigerian Army,” the statement read. “We remain committed to enforcing discipline and safeguarding the integrity of our service.”
For many in Enugu and across the nation, the court’s decisions offer a measure of closure.
Yet the haunting image of Hauwa Ali’s final moments lingers—an enduring reminder of the human cost of unchecked violence, even among those sworn to protect.