The Nigerian Army on Sunday said it has dismissed three soldiers arrested among a kidnapping gang in the outskirts of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

The Theater Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Olusegun Adeniyi who disclosed this while handing over the dismissed soldiers to the police said they were arrested with 22 other suspects by a joint patrol team in the early hours of Sunday.

Adeniyi said that the unnamed soldiers were initially deployed to Operation Lafiya Dole but they engaged in nefarious activities such as kidnapping, armed robbery, killings and cultism among other criminal activities. 

The Theater Commander added that the erring soldiers were dismissed in accordance with  military procedures, warning that the army would not condone criminals in its fold.

His words: “The three soldiers were caught among the evil group. There was further resistance and attempt to escape so we tied them up with ropes because handcuffs were not available.

“In addition, we could not put violent men that do this kind of crimes into a police van to take to the station. There may be a breakout on the road and we know what would happen.

“We had to restrain them thoroughly with ropes before we take them and handover to the police .

“The Acting GOC, 7 Division, Brig.-Gen. AK Ibrahim has conducted military procedures. We do not keep armed robbers, kidnappers and cultists in the army. They had been dismissed.

“We gathered here to witness their handover to the Nigeria Police Force for civil action. They are dismissed and they are no longer soldiers of the Nigerian Army. Our code of conduct is strict and high. No evil soldier will be allowed to serve in the army.”

Adeniyi  called on the people to be vigilante and report suspicious persons, movements and activities to security agencies.