In a landmark ruling that has ignited national debate across Nigeria, a General Court Martial sitting at the 82 Division Headquarters of the Nigerian Army in Enugu has sentenced Private Adamu Mohammed to death by hanging for the brutal murder of his girlfriend, Hauwa Ali.
The judgment, delivered on April 28, 2025, underscores the military’s zero-tolerance stance on violent crimes within its ranks but also raises urgent questions about gender-based violence and accountability within the armed forces.
The murder, which occurred on April 11, 2024, shocked the Enugu military community and the nation at large. Hauwa Ali body was found lifeless near the officers’ quarters within the barracks, still dressed in her hijab, by the daughter of a senior army officer.
The discovery prompted an immediate investigation that culminated in the arrest of Private Mohammed, who was charged under Section 106(a) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 LFN 2004 — a section that provides for capital punishment in cases of willful homicide.
The court martial was convened on February 18, 2025, by Major General Oluyemi Olatoye, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division.
Presided over by Brigadier General Sadisu Buhari, the 11-member panel conducted a comprehensive trial, which reportedly included damning witness testimonies and forensic evidence linking the soldier to the crime.
Despite pleas for leniency from the accused and his defence counsel, the court delivered the death sentence, citing the need to uphold justice, maintain order within the military, and deter similar crimes.
The ruling was publicly announced by Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Unuakhalu, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for 82 Division.
In a related judgment on the same day, another soldier, Private Abubakar Yusuf, received a 10-year prison sentence for a robbery-related offence, reinforcing the military’s resolve to enforce discipline and internal justice.
The high-profile case has reignited national conversations about the prevalence of gender-based violence in Nigeria and the mental health of soldiers, particularly in the post-conflict environments they operate in.
