A Nigerian Air Force officer, Master Warrant Officer (MWO) James Tumba, has been sentenced to two years in prison after spending two years and three weeks in military detention. The court-martial’s verdict comes as a result of his involvement in delivering a lecture at a Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) event in Kaduna. MWO Tumba had been detained since October 13, 2021, along with four other officers for their participation in the same event.
SaharaReporters first reported on September 27, 2023, that these officers had been detained since 2021, accused of violating military standing rules. Despite cries of unjust incarceration and inhumane treatment, they remained in detention in facilities in Kaduna and Plateau states, appealing to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, to intervene in their case.
MWO Tumba, who had already spent two years and three weeks in detention, now faces an additional two-year imprisonment sentence handed down by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF). His colleague and a family member expressed their deep frustration over what they see as religious persecution rather than a just legal process.
MWO Tumba’s family member explained that he had been sent by the Air Force to carry out intelligence work in four states, and his lecture at the CAN event was not a hostile activity. They argued that Tumba had the permission and an ID card to collect information, given the nature of his intelligence work, and that he had reported all activities to the Chief of Air Staff.
The case is perceived by some as a result of religious persecution, and senior officers have expressed dismay over the situation. They have questioned the motives behind the imprisonment, noting that Tumba had a record of successful results in his role as an intelligence officer. Some believe that ulterior motives are at play in the handling of the case.
Attempts to contact the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Edward Gabkwet, for comments on the matter but received no response at the time of this report.