- Dismissed soldier Rotimi Olamilekan has alleged he was detained, mistreated, and eventually dismissed from the Nigerian Army over a viral video where he called on politicians to send their children to serve in the military.
- He recounted being moved across multiple detention facilities, including Maiduguri and Abuja, where he claimed he was held for weeks under difficult conditions.
A dismissed Nigerian soldier, Lance Corporal Rotimi Olamilekan, has spoken out following his removal from the Nigerian Army, alleging months of detention, harsh treatment, and denial of basic rights after a viral video he made criticising political leaders.
In a video seen online, Olamilekan said his ordeal began after he called on politicians to allow their children to serve in the military amid ongoing insurgency.
“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,” he said.
According to him, he was arrested from his duty post in the North-East, where he had reportedly served for over four years in a remote location.
“I was arrested because of a video I made, saying that ministers, governors, and local government chairmen, all politicians, should send their sons into the army to fight terrorists,” he added.
“From my location, they handcuffed my legs and hands. It was as if I had stolen or killed.”
He recounted being moved across multiple detention facilities, including Maiduguri and Abuja, where he claimed he was held for weeks under difficult conditions.
“I really suffered. I suffered a lot in Abuja, with handcuffs on my legs and hands for over a month,” he said.
“Even the feeding was just twice a day, small portions, not even up to N500 worth of food. No calls. I couldn’t talk to my family or anyone. They collected my phone.”
Olamilekan said he was later presented with charges and dismissed from the Army without being given a fair chance to defend himself.
“They called out my order and read the charges, the first, second, third, and fourth, and I was dismissed… just because of the video I made,” he stated.
He described the experience as evidence of a lack of free speech, expressing shock at the outcome.
“I didn’t expect this. It shows that in our country, we don’t have freedom of speech, and we are not free to say the truth,” he lamented.
The dismissed soldier also said he was publicly marched out of the barracks after his dismissal.
“It was after they dismissed me that they marched me out… it is so sad,” he said.
Appealing to Nigerians for support, he added:
“I don’t have anyone to fight for me, but I know God will fight for me because this is not right… Please, I want people to continue standing for me and help me fight for justice.”
Reflecting on his years in service, Olamilekan maintained that he had a clean record prior to the incident.
“I spent eight years in service… I have never fought anyone, never stolen, never killed… but because I spoke the truth on social media… I was dismissed,” he said.
His earlier viral video had shown him emotionally lamenting the loss of fellow soldiers and calling on political leaders to show commitment.
“The way I dey lose my colleagues… e dey comot tears for my eye day by day,” he said in Pidgin.
“Let each one of them bring their son to join the Nigerian Army.”
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