BREAKING: Nigerian Soldier Sentenced to Death by Hanging for Brutal Murder of Tricycle Rider in Bauchi

Though the Nigerian Army has yet to officially confirm the development, social media platform Instablog9ja first broke the news on its verified X handle, reporting that a soldier has been sentenced to death by a General Court Martial.

According to the report, a General Court Martial sitting at Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Jos, convicted and sentenced Private Lukman Musa of the 3 Division, Nigerian Army, to death by hanging for the murder of a tricycle (Keke) rider, Abdulrahman Isa, in Bauchi State.

The verdict, delivered on Thursday, September 18, 2025, by the court’s president, Brigadier General Liafis Bello, found Musa guilty on multiple charges, including murder, culpable homicide, and unlawful possession of ammunition.

Court documents revealed how Musa, along with an accomplice identified as Oba (still at large), lured Isa to his residence under the pretext of helping him move his belongings. Once inside, Musa struck Isa on the head with a wooden object before strangling him to death.

In an attempt to conceal the heinous act, Musa stuffed Isa’s body into a sack and dumped it along a deserted path between Shira and Yala villages. The victim’s tricycle, his only means of livelihood, was later sold.

Musa was also found with 34 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition in his possession, without any official authorization.

Delivering judgment, Brig. Gen. Bello described Musa’s conduct as “barbaric and heartless,” stressing that he had betrayed the very oath he swore to uphold.

“You mercilessly metamorphosed from a defender of citizens to a killer. Your action is an embarrassment and a disgrace to the Nigerian Army,” Bello declared.

The Sentence

Musa was convicted under Section 220 of the Penal Code and sentenced to death by hanging as provided in Section 221.

While the Army is yet to release an official statement, the report has stirred intense debate online, with citizens demanding transparency and accountability in handling such cases.