The Nigerian Army has detained Major Shamsudeen Sani, a frontline officer who has spent years fighting Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents in northeastern Nigeria, placing him in solitary confinement for months.
According to SaharaReporters, this was after the Major reportedly withdrew his troops from a position under heavy terrorist threat in order to prevent casualties and seek reinforcement.
A security source who spoke with SaharaReporters on Tuesday disclosed that the officer has been held incommunicado in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, without access to his family or legal representation.
According to the source, Major Sani, who hails from Jalingo in Taraba State, was arrested after allegedly withdrawing his troops from a battlefield position during operations against insurgents linked to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The officer was reportedly accused by military authorities of abandoning or overrunning his location, an allegation that has led to his prolonged detention under strict conditions.
“He is a brother of mine from Taraba State and his hometown is Jalingo,” the security source said.
“He was shortlisted into the Nigerian Army Short Service Course in 2012 and since then he has always been posted to volatile areas of Maiduguri to fight Boko Haram insurgents and ISWAP.”
The source explained that throughout his career, Major Sani had consistently served in dangerous combat zones, spending years on the frontline in the counter-insurgency war in Nigeria’s northeast.
However, the officer’s attempt to protect the lives of his soldiers during a recent operation reportedly led to his arrest and detention.
“He has been arrested and detained by the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri and has been kept in solitary confinement for months over allegations that he overran his location,” the source said.
“Is it a crime to tactically withdraw from a location to regroup or await reinforcement?” the source asked.
The source further revealed that Major Sani has been completely cut off from his family and legal representatives since his detention began.
“He has been kept incommunicado away from his two wives and even lawyers do not have access to him,” the source said.
Major Sani, according to the source, is married to two wives and has children, all of whom have been denied the opportunity to see him since his arrest.
“He has two wives and children and all of them have been denied access to see him just because he was protecting his troops from being killed,” the source added.
The security insider expressed frustration over the military’s harsh treatment of a dedicated officer who had spent over a decade risking his life in service to the country.
“This is someone I know and how dedicated he has always been to the safety of Nigeria, but look at how the Nigerian Army is paying him back,” the source said.
“For 14 years since he passed out from the Army, he has always been posted to volatile areas.”
The source also noted that the ongoing war against insurgency has already claimed the lives of several officers from Taraba State, including a recent casualty.
“Just recently we lost another brother in the Army from Taraba, Major I.U. Mairiga, less than a week ago to the Boko Haram insurgents,” the source said.
“We do not want to lose another brother.”
According to the source, the continued detention of Major Sani has raised concerns among colleagues and acquaintances who fear that the officer is being unfairly punished for making a battlefield decision intended to preserve lives.
“If the Nigerian Army doesn’t want him, they should please dismiss him so that he can come back home to reunite with his family,” the source said. “We still love him.”
The source further criticised the worsening morale within the military, arguing that the treatment of officers like Major Sani sends a troubling message to soldiers risking their lives in the fight against terrorism.
“The Nigerian Army is making the entire profession a death sentence instead of it being a sacrifice for the country,” the source added.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Army had not publicly responded to the allegations surrounding Major Sani’s detention or the claims that he has been held without access to family members or legal counsel.
Nigeria’s military has been battling insurgency in the northeast for more than a decade, with troops regularly deployed to dangerous frontline positions across Borno and neighbouring states as part of operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters.
However, the war has also been marked by repeated complaints from soldiers and insiders about harsh disciplinary measures, battlefield decisions being criminalised, and concerns over troop welfare and morale.
