‘He was dismissed in 2013’ — army speaks on ‘soldier’ linked with child’s murder

The Nigerian army says Adamu Galadima, a “soldier” who was arrested for his alleged involvement in the abduction and killing of a six-year-old boy in Kaduna, was dismissed from the service in 2013.

Despite collecting a ransom of N1 million, the abductors of the boy went ahead to kill him.

The Kaduna police later arrested four suspects linked to the crime, including one Sani Adamu whose name bears a close resemblance to that of the dismissed soldier. 

Reacting in a statement, Mohammed Yerima, army’s spokesperson, said Galadima was dismissed in 2013 after a court-martial found him guilty of an offence.

 “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to a video which has gone viral on the social media alleging that a soldier, Lance Corporal Adamu Galadima, was involved in an alleged case of kidnapp and murder of his neighbour’s child after collecting the sum of N5m as ransom,” the statement read.

“The Nigerian Army  wishes to state that the information contained in the video is not true.

“Contrary to the claim, Lance Corporal Adamu Galadima was duly dismissed from the Nigerian Army in 2013 after a General Court Martial that held  in Kaduna had found him guilty.

“His last unit was 2 Provost Group where he was involved in a case of attempted murder leading to his arrest and prosecution before the General Court Marshal in Kaduna.

“After his dismissal, Adamu found his way to Kaduna State Environmental Services where he secured a job as a cleaner.

“He is therefore, not a personnel of Nigerian Army as at April 2021 when he committed the alleged crime.”

Yerima added that the army remains a disciplined organisation that will not condone any unprofessional conduct on the part of its officers and soldiers.