Dismissed Soldier Claims Troops Buy Own Uniforms, Protective Gears, Cites Poor Pay

A dismissed Nigerian soldier, Rotimi Olamilekan, popularly known as Soja Boi (service number 18NA/77/1009 LCPL), who served with the 81 Division Task Force Battalion in Borno State, has alleged that Nigerian Army personnel were forced to purchase their own uniforms and protective equipment despite receiving modest salaries.

Olamilekan made the claims in an interview on the Honest Brunch Podcast, featuring human rights activist and politician, Omoyele Sowore.

Speaking during the interview, Olamilekan gave details of his earnings while in service, stating that his pay had only recently been increased before his dismissal in March.

“As a soldier, presently (before he was dismissed in March), them dey pay me, the last salary wey I collect for Army N109,000 or N111,000. But before that, it was just last year, February, that they increased the salary. Before now, N51,000,” he said in pidgin English.

He added that allowances pushed total earnings to about N70,000 before the increment, describing it as insufficient for survival.

“And how were you surviving on N71,000? The suffer no be small. Apart from the salary, nothing more. Nothing dey enter for you as a soldier,” he added.

Olamilekan further alleged that soldiers were responsible for purchasing their uniforms and essential gear, insisting the costs often exceed their monthly pay.

When asked by Sowore whether uniforms were issued, he replied: “No, they don’t give uniform now. Ask any soldier. They buy them.”

He gave cost estimates for the items, “The uniform is about N55,000. Yes. Na you go buy uniform, na you go buy boots, na you go buy anything you want to use. The boots, sometimes N60,000 for one pair of boots,” he said.

He also claimed that protective equipment such as bulletproof vests and helmets were generally not provided Armed Forces.

“What about armour bullet-proof, helmet… all those ones, they don’t give you. So you buy it yourself?” he was asked.

“I swear, nobody will give you,” the ex-soldier responded in affirmative.

According to him, such equipment was only made available during high-profile visits.

“If you see say maybe soldier wear that thing, maybe say they get one kind, or this big visitor, maybe governor, they want to go on occasion… they just go pack one and come,” he said.

Olamilekan further alleged that troops deployed to high-risk areas, including Sambisa Forest, often operate without adequate protective gear.

“Nobody will give you now if you no buy am… If anything they happen, now una he go first meat without bulletproof. Who won give you now?” he said.

He also recounted spending over four years in Maiduguri, Borno State, despite standard rotation timelines.

“So that Maiduguri, I don spend about four years, nine months now, and they tell us, yes, now two years before they will rotate you. Me, I don do double, I don do the third,” he said.

Recall that Olamilekan first gained public attention in February 2026 after releasing a viral video criticising the treatment of soldiers and urging political leaders to send their children to the frontlines.

“In this country, we have 36 governors, we have senators, we have ministers. Let each one of them bring their sons to join the Nigerian Army. May they join the Nigerian Army, not even the officer, may they join the other rank,” he had said.

He added, “So that they can come and witness what we, what we dey witness… every day, this killing is too much.”

According to his management, he was arrested about eight weeks after the video, spent his birthday in detention, and was later released, triggering the #FreeSojaBoi campaign on social media.

In a post shared on Instagram in March 2026 following his release, he expressed gratitude to supporters.

“We are grateful to everyone who stood up, spoke out, and used their platforms to demand fairness. Your voices were heard,” he wrote.

“To friends, family, fans, and supporters across different platforms, thank you for your unwavering support during this difficult time… You showed that unity and collective voice still matter,” he added.

He further claimed his dismissal from service was linked to the viral video.

“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.

When contacted, spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, Colonel Appolonia Anaele, said the institution would respond formally to the allegations by the ex-Soldier.

“I’ll get back to you with a formal statement. You have to wait,” she said, without confirming or denying the claims.