A dismissed Nigerian soldier, Rotimi Olamilekan, has opened up about his ordeal following his removal from the Nigerian Army, alleging months of suffering, humiliation, and denial of basic rights after he posted a video addressing political leaders.
“I was arrested and dismissed as a Nigerian soldier because of a video I made last year, where I called on politicians’ children to join the military,” Olamilekan said.
The former lance corporal had gone viral after urging ministers, governors, lawmakers, and local government chairmen to send their children into military service, highlighting the increasing loss of soldiers in the fight against insurgency.
Recounting his experience, he said he was arrested directly from his duty post and treated like a criminal.
“I was arrested because of a video I made, saying that ministers, governors, and local government chairmen, all politicians, should send their sons into the army to fight terrorists,” he said.
“This is the reason I was arrested. From my location, they handcuffed my legs and hands. It was as if I had stolen or killed.”
He explained that he had spent over four years serving in a remote location in Nigeria’s North-East before his arrest.
“They moved me from there because I was inside the bush, and I had been there for about four years and nine months, staying in that location,” he added.
Olamilekan said he was moved across several detention facilities, including in Maiduguri and Abuja.
“From there, they moved me to Maiduguri, 70th Provost MP Guard Room. From there, they took me to Abuja SIB. I was there for more than a month,” he said.
“They brought me back from Abuja to the 70th, then took me back to my location, and I was still locked up with handcuffs on my legs and hands, as if I had stolen something.”
He added that although he was eventually presented with charges, he was not given adequate opportunity to defend himself.
“They gave me a paper for my charges, four charges, but I will give details later because I can’t provide everything now,” he said.
“They called out my order and read the charges, the first, second, third, and fourth, and I was dismissed, dismissed from the regiment, just because of the video I made.”
Olamilekan said the outcome shocked him and raised concerns about freedom of expression.
“I didn’t expect this. It shows that in our country, we don’t have freedom of speech, and we are not free to say the truth,” he lamented.
He also described harsh detention conditions, particularly during his time in Abuja.
“I really suffered. I suffered a lot in Abuja, with handcuffs on my legs and hands for over a month,” he said.
“Even the feeding was just twice a day, small portions, not even up to N500 worth of food. No calls. I couldn’t talk to my family or anyone. They collected my phone.”
According to him, his dismissal was followed by public humiliation as he was marched out of the barracks.
“It was after they dismissed me that they marched me out. I was dismissed from my unit and taken to the 7th Division. From there, they marched me out of the barracks as a dismissed soldier. It is so sad,” he said.
He has now called on Nigerians and civil society organisations to support him in seeking justice.
“I don’t have anyone to fight for me, but I know God will fight for me because this is not right,” he said.
“Please, I want people to continue standing for me and help me fight for justice because I never expected this.”
Reflecting on his service, Olamilekan said he had maintained a clean record throughout his eight years in the army.
“I spent eight years in service. Since 2018, when I joined the army, I have never been charged until now because of social media,” he said.
“I have never fought anyone, never stolen, never killed, and never been involved in any misconduct. But because I spoke the truth on social media… I was dismissed.”
He also spoke about the prolonged hardship he endured while stationed in Maiduguri.
“I spent four years and nine months in Maiduguri, and nobody spoke about it or came to change my situation,” he said.
“I really suffered. They treated me badly… but no problem, glory be to God. Where there is life, there is hope.”
In the viral video that triggered his arrest, he expressed concern over the rising number of casualties among soldiers and called on political leaders to allow their children to serve in the military.
“The way I dey lose my colleagues, it is getting to things wey be say e dey comot tears for my eye day by day. In this country, we have 36 governors, we have like 109 senators, even ministers, we have like almost 60 (The way I keep losing my colleagues is reaching a point where it brings tears to my eyes every day. In this country, we have 36 governors, about 109 senators, nearly 60 ministers),” he said.
“We have House of Representatives, chairmen of local governments – 774. Let each one of them bring their son to join the Nigerian Army (We have members of the House of Representatives, and 774 local government chairmen. Let each of them send their own son to join the Nigerian Army).”
What you should know
Rotimi Olamilekan, a former Nigerian soldier, claims he was dismissed after posting a viral video urging politicians to send their children to the military.
He alleges he was detained for months under harsh conditions and denied proper legal defence. His case has raised concerns about freedom of speech, military discipline, and the treatment of personnel.
While the army has not publicly responded in this report, the situation highlights tensions between institutional authority and individual expression within Nigeria’s armed forces.
