A Nigerian soldier has released a strongly worded message accusing the government of neglecting both frontline troops and the worsening insecurity across the country.
In the video, which is now circulating widely on social media, the soldier lamented that those battling daily attacks are being left vulnerable despite the rising number of casualties. He alleged that many officers feel overstretched, abandoned, and kept in the dark about the true state of the nation’s security situation.
According to him, political leaders appear more focused on personal interests while expecting soldiers to continue risking their lives without adequate support.
The soldier warned that the situation could reach a point where both civilians and security personnel might feel forced to defend themselves individually, as trust in leadership continues to erode. He openly questioned whether the country still has effective leadership capable of confronting the crisis.
Voicing his frustration in pidgin, he said in part:
“Ladies and gentlemen of the armed forces, arise. Something fishy dey go on wey we no understand. Make them tell us the truth. If na to drop this gun and go back house go defend our family with cutlass, we no go hesitate. Our people still need us. No be person wey no need us go carry us dey count money for pocket while him children dey abroad.
“Make una bring una children make them join this work. Me I don tire. Dem just dey kill person anyhow. Na stone we be? Abi na because e never reach their children? E go reach stage wey everybody go fight for himself. I cannot save this nation anymore. I no even know if we get president again.”
The message has since drawn reactions, with many Nigerians expressing fear, sympathy, or agreement over the soldier’s outburst.
Read some netizens’ reactions below;
@samuel: How can any army win a war when the people they are fighting for are being abandoned like this. How can soldiers give their lives with confidence when a priest can die in captivity and nobody is punished, nobody is arrested, nobody is made an example. Victory comes from morale, and morale comes from justice. If the killers of priests, children, teachers, farmers, and soldiers walk free, then what exactly are our troops fighting for. A nation that cannot protect the innocent is also failing its own defenders. Until justice starts matching sacrifice, no military strategy will succeed.
@brunoclems: Watch how swift they’re going to arrest this man and prosecute him ,just watch and Apc ronus would be the first to defend it
@lawreignz: A soldier speaking out like this should scare everyone. When the people risking their lives lose confidence in leadership, the country is in real danger. Our leaders can’t keep sending ordinary citizens to the frontlines while their own children enjoy safety abroad.
@Ramona: I pray they don’t dismiss him or harm his for speaking out
@kachi: The reason I will not join the armed forces is the hierarchy of command.
How person go come tell me say don’t shoot when I am seeing my opponent face 2 face all in the name of obeying the last order
If I kpai the leaders go come out say I died in active service
@jospeh: Except we begin to speak the truth to power, be you whatever, we will remain like this.
