• Super Admin
• 07 Mar, 2026

The soldier, who spoke while highlighting the constant loss of his colleagues to terrorists and bandits, challenged political leaders -- including governors, senators, and ministers -- to allow their children to enlist in the Army and experience the hardships of the frontline. Civil rights organisation, the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has called on the Nigerian Army authorities to immediately release a soldier, Lance Corporal Rotimi Olamilekan, who was arrested and detained after posting a video on social media lamenting the poor welfare of frontline troops. In a statement on Saturday, signed by the Executive Director of RULAAC, Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma, the group expressed concern over the "incommunicado detention" of the soldier, noting that his grievances were a reflection of the harsh realities faced by personnel in the Northeast. Olamilekan, with service number 18NA/77/1009 and attached to the 81 Division Task Force Battalion in Maiduguri, Borno State, had in the emotional video complained that he had served on the frontline for four years without promotion or additional benefits. The soldier, who spoke while highlighting the constant loss of his colleagues to terrorists and bandits, challenged political leaders -- including governors, senators, and ministers -- to allow their children to enlist in the Army and experience the hardships of the frontline. Reacting to the development, RULAAC argued that while the military is a disciplined institution governed by rules, punishing a soldier for expressing legitimate concerns about the sacrifice of troops was counterproductive. "From the content of the video widely circulated in the public domain, Lance Corporal Olamilekan did not disclose operational secrets nor incite mutiny or insubordination," Nwanguma said. The statement added, "rather, he spoke emotionally about the toll of the war on soldiers and called attention to the heavy sacrifices made by those confronting violent insurgency." The advocacy group noted that this was not the first time soldiers had raised alarms over prolonged deployments and lack of psychological support. RULAAC warned that silencing such voices through repression instead of engagement could damage military morale. The centre urged the military high command to: "Release the soldier immediately or ensure he is granted access to his family and legal representation. "Investigate his claims regarding promotion stagnation and the psychological toll of combat. "Strengthen internal grievance mechanisms to allow personnel to report concerns without fear of retaliation. "Prioritise mental health support and career progression for troops in high-risk theatres of operation." The statement concluded that Nigeria's success in the fight against terrorism depends largely on the "morale, dignity, and wellbeing" of its soldiers, adding that "listening to them will strengthen the military more than silencing them." Source: https://saharareporters.com/2026/03/07/rulaac-demands-release-nigerian-soldier-detained-over-video-welfare-promotion-stagnation