A Nigerian soldier, Lance Corporal Rotimi Olamilekan, has reportedly been arrested and detained at the army headquarters in Abuja after a video of him criticizing the country’s political elite went viral. In the emotional footage, Olamilekan, who claimed to have spent nearly five years on the frontlines in Maiduguri without promotion, called on governors, senators, and ministers to send their own children to join the Nigerian Army.
“Send your sons to the frontlines to see what we face; let them fight these terrorists too,” he reportedly urged, expressing deep frustration over the recurring loss of his colleagues and friends in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations.
The soldier’s arrest on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, has sparked a significant outcry on social media, with alot of Nigerians defending his right to express the psychological toll of prolonged combat. According to reports, Olamilekan was moved swiftly from his station to the capital, where he is allegedly being held without access to his family or legal representation.
“He was arrested, denied access to his family… and transferred to Army Headquarters in Abuja,” sources close to the situation claimed, noting that the military leadership viewed the video as an act of indiscipline and a violation of the social media policy governing active-duty personnel.
The Nigerian Army has historically maintained strict regulations regarding soldiers airing grievances in public, often citing “cyber-conduct” and “prejudicial behavior” as grounds for court-martial.
While the military has not yet released an official statement regarding Olamilekan’s specific charges, the incident has reignited a national conversation about the welfare of troops and the perceived disconnect between the ruling class and the soldiers on the ground.
Supporters of the Lance Corporal have launched online campaigns calling for his release, arguing that his plea was a cry for help from a soldier suffering from the trauma of war rather than a deliberate attempt to incite mutiny.
