Right Group Calls for Release of Soldier Detained Over Viral Video on Poor Welfare

A civil rights organization, the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), has called on the Nigerian Army authorities to release Lance Corporal Rotimi Olamilekan, a soldier arrested and detained after posting a video on social media lamenting the poor welfare of troops fighting on the frontline.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the group’s Executive Director, Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma, expressed concern over what it described as the incommunicado detention of the soldier, noting that his grievances reflected the harsh realities faced by personnel deployed in the Northeast theatre of operations.

Olamilekan, with service number 18NA/77/1009 and attached to the 81 Division Task Force Battalion in Maiduguri, Borno State, had in an emotional video complained about serving on the frontline for four years without promotion or additional benefits.

In the widely circulated video, the soldier also highlighted the constant loss of his colleagues to terrorists and bandits, while challenging political leaders including governors, senators, and ministers to allow their children to enlist in the Army and experience the hardships of combat firsthand.

RULAAC argued that while the military remains a disciplined institution governed by rules, punishing a soldier for expressing legitimate concerns about the sacrifices 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 immediately release the soldier or ensure he is granted access to his family and legal representation. It also called for an investigation into his claims regarding promotion stagnation and the psychological toll of combat.

Additionally, RULAAC recommended strengthening internal grievance mechanisms to allow personnel to report concerns without fear of retaliation, while prioritizing 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 would strengthen the military more than silencing them.