Nigerian Soldier In Trouble Over Viral Video Calling On Governors, Top Politicians To Send Their Children To Join Army, Fight Terrorists
A Nigerian soldier, Lance Corporal Rotimi Olamilekan (service number 18NA/77/1009 LCPL), serving with the 81 Division Task Force Battalion in Maiduguri, Borno State, has reportedly been detained for allegedly making a social media post calling on politicians to allow their sons to enlist in the Nigerian Army.
According to sources said, Olamilekan was arrested on February 11, 2026, during an operation after a signal was reportedly received directing that he be brought to Army Headquarters in Abuja.
The soldier was reportedly apprehended at his location by fellow officers and briefly detained in a cell in Maiduguri before being transferred to Abuja.
Sources further disclosed that he was not permitted to inform his family members about his arrest but managed to ask colleagues to notify his aged mother that he had been taken to Abuja.
Since his detention, Olamilekan has allegedly been denied access to legal representation.
In the video posted on his Facebook page prior to his arrest, the soldier called on top government officials including ministers, senators, members of the House of Representatives, and local government chairmen to allow their sons to be recruited into the Nigerian Army to join the fight against banditry and insurgency across the country.
“The way I dey lose my colleagues, it is getting to things wey be say e dey comot tears for my eye day by day. In this country, we have 36 governors, we have like 109 senators, even ministers, we have like almost 60 (The way I keep losing my colleagues is reaching a point where it brings tears to my eyes every day. In this country, we have 36 governors, about 109 senators, nearly 60 ministers),” he said in Pidgin English.
“We have House of Representatives, chairmen of local governments – 774. Let each one of them bring their son to join the Nigerian Army (We have members of the House of Representatives, and 774 local government chairmen. Let each of them send their own son to join the Nigerian Army).
It was also gathered that Olamilekan has spent four years and eight months in Maiduguri participating in counter-insurgency operations without promotion or additional benefits.
When contacted the Nigerian Army spokesperson, Col. Appolonia Anele, she was unavailable and did not respond to a text message sent to her mobile phone.
