A dismissed Nigerian soldier, Rotimi Olamilekan, has spoken out following his removal from the Nigerian Army, alleging months of detention, humiliation, and denial of basic rights after he criticised political leaders in a viral video.
Olamilekan, a Lance Corporal prior to his dismissal, said he was arrested after calling on politicians to allow their children to join the military and experience frontline conditions faced by troops battling insurgency. The video, which circulated widely on social media, highlighted the heavy losses among soldiers and urged greater shared responsibility among the nation’s leadership.
“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,”
— Lance Corporal Rotimi Olamilekan breaks his silence after being dismissed over a video he posted on his social media… https://t.co/Q44WGF7ZyB pic.twitter.com/iQERkFEBAz
— CHUKS (@ChuksEricE) March 25, 2026
In a recent video statement, he claimed he was arrested from his duty post in the North-East, where he had reportedly spent over four years on deployment, and was treated like a criminal. According to him, he was handcuffed and transferred across multiple detention facilities, including locations in Maiduguri and Abuja.
He alleged that he was held in custody for over a month under harsh conditions, with limited food, no communication with his family, and restricted access to legal representation. Olamilekan further stated that he was later presented with multiple charges but was not given adequate opportunity to defend himself before being dismissed from service.
Describing the experience as unjust, he said the outcome reflects a lack of freedom of expression, insisting that his comments were made out of concern over the welfare of soldiers on the frontlines.
Following his dismissal, he said he was publicly marched out of the barracks, an experience he described as degrading. He has since appealed to Nigerians and civil society organisations for support in seeking justice.
Olamilekan maintained that he had served in the army for eight years without prior disciplinary issues, adding that his record remained clean until the incident that led to his dismissal.
The soldier’s case has drawn attention after earlier reports indicated he was arrested in February 2026 and denied access to family members and legal counsel during his detention. His initial video had called on government officials—including ministers, lawmakers, and local government chairmen—to send their children into military service as a show of commitment in the fight against insecurity.
“The way we are løsing our fellow soldiers day by day always breaks my heart. President, governors, ministers, members of the House of Representatives, and other government officials should send their own children to join the army so they can witness these ambushes… pic.twitter.com/OPheXzovP1
— CHUKS (@ChuksEricE) November 19, 2025
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