Nigerian soldiers sentenced to die for refusing to fight

Abuja - A court martial in Nigeria sentenced 54 soldiers to death on Wednesday for refusing to fight the Boko Haram radical Islamist group, a media report said.

The troops will be executed by firing squad, the Nigeria Tribune reported.

The soldiers declined in August to take part in an operation against extremist separatist group Boko Haram.

They faced an array of charges including mutiny and cowardice.

Four soldiers were acquitted.

Boko Haram, which translates to "Western education is forbidden", has said it wants to establish an Islamic state. The group has killed more than 4 000 people in northern Nigeria this year.