TWELVE soldiers fighting an Islamic insurgency in Nigeria have been sentenced to death by firing squad for mutiny and the attempted murder of their commanding officer.

Brigadier General Chukwuemeka Okonkwo said a military tribunal found 12 soldiers guilty and five others innocent. One was sentenced to 28 days in jail with hard labour.

All had denied the charges. The revolt occurred after a convoy of soldiers was ordered to drive at night on a road frequently attacked by Boko Haram Islamic extremists.

The soldiers initially refused saying it was a suicide mission, but they eventually followed orders and were ambushed. An unknown number were killed.

When the bodies of the ambushed soldiers were brought to their barracks, their comrades revolted, throwing stones at their commanding officer, firing into the air and shooting at him. Several bullets hit the armour-plated vehicle in which he sought refuge but the officer was unharmed.