Lance Corporal Hillary Joel was reported to have set a Boko Haram suspect ablaze, leading to his death during a cordon and search operation in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.

The soldier was found guilty of murder by the Army General Court Martial, Punch reports.

The other soldiers who faced the court martial with him include Private Chima Samuel for aiding and abetting the murder of a minor Yakubu Isah; and Sergent Samuel Balanga for desertion and miscellaneous offences.

They were handed sanctions which included demotions and jail terms.

Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai has disclosed that the Nigeria Army would recruit 12,000 men in 2017 to help fight insurgents and other uprisings across the country. Buratai was speaking during a budget defence session with the House of Representatives Committee on Army.

According to him, the recruitment exercise would take place after the Army’s 2017 budget proposal of N152.8 billion is approved. He further revealed that the exercise would be in two batches with 6,000 men first and another 6,000 later.

The army chief further explained that the Army was currently engaged in different operations in almost all the states of the federation, combating criminalities such as kidnapping, terrorism, pipeline vandalism, cattle rustling, among others.

He complained that delay in release of funds was frustrating military operations nationwide, adding that the morale of troops must be boosted regularly.