By Tony Adibe
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) said it has received with deep concern reports of the arrest and detention of a Nigerian soldier, Lance Corporal Rotimi Olamilekan, following a video he posted on social media expressing frustration over the conditions soldiers are facing on the frontline in the fight against banditry and terrorism.
According to reports, Lance Corporal Olamilekan, who identified himself with service number 18NA/77/1009 LCPL, stated in the video that he has been serving with the 81 Division Task Force Battalion in Maiduguri, Borno State, for about four years without promotion or additional benefits.
In the emotional video, he lamented the continued loss of colleagues in the line of duty and called on political leaders – governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives, ministers, and local government chairmen – to allow their own children to enlist in the Nigerian Army and experience the realities soldiers face on the frontline.
RULAAC said while “we acknowledge that the Nigerian military, like all disciplined institutions”, operates under rules governing conduct and communication by serving personnel, the arrest and incommunicado detention of a soldier for expressing concerns about the welfare and sacrifices of frontline troops raises serious questions about the military’s responsiveness to legitimate grievances within its ranks.
According to RULAAC in a statement issued by its Executive Director, Mr. Okwuchukwu Nwanguma, “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”. 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 and banditry on behalf of the nation, Nwanguma explained.
RULAAC stressed that this is not the first time soldiers deployed to the frontline have raised concerns about welfare, prolonged deployment, lack of promotion, and the psychological burden of combat operations. “Such concerns are not acts of rebellion; they are reflections of the realities experienced by those risking their lives daily to defend the country,” RULAAC said.
he statement further read: “Punishing soldiers for speaking about these challenges risks silencing legitimate grievances that should instead inform improvements in military welfare, morale, and operational effectiveness.
“The Nigerian public owes a deep debt of gratitude to soldiers who endure enormous hardship in defence of the nation. When those soldiers raise concerns about their welfare and the conditions under which they serve, the appropriate response should be engagement and reform – not repression.” RULAAC therefore calls on the Nigerian military authorities to:
“Immediately release Lance Corporal Rotimi Olamilekan or ensure that he is treated in accordance with the law and granted access to his family and legal representation.
“Investigate the concerns he raised regarding prolonged deployment, promotion stagnation, and the psychological toll of combat operations.
Strengthen internal grievance and welfare mechanisms within the military so that frontline personnel can safely report concerns without fear of retaliation.
“Prioritise the welfare, mental health support, and career progression of soldiers deployed in high-risk theatres of operation.
“Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and violent crime depends not only on weapons and strategy but also on the morale, dignity, and wellbeing of the soldiers who prosecute the war.”
“Silencing their voices will not strengthen the military; listening to them will.”
Signed:
Okechukwu Nwanguma
Executive Director
Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC)
Lagos, Nigeria
