The Nigerian Army has dismissed a lance corporal after he was arrested for posting a video urging politicians and public officials to send their sons to join the military.
The Nigerian Army has reportedly dismissed a detained lance corporal, Rotimi Olamilekan, after he posted a video calling on Nigerian political leaders to send their sons to join the military.
Olamilekan, who served with the 81 Division Task Force Battalion in Maiduguri, Borno State, was arrested on February 11, 2026, and transferred to Army Headquarters in Abuja following the video.
Sources alleged that the soldier, who served for eight years, was held in harsh conditions while in detention, including being confined in unsanitary cells with suspected criminals and having his hands and legs cuffed. They also claimed his health deteriorated during detention and that he was denied adequate medical care despite reportedly suffering from a serious ailment.
In the video posted on Facebook before his arrest, Olamilekan said, “The way I dey lose my colleagues, it is getting to a point where it brings tears to my eyes every day. In this country, we have 36 governors, about 109 senators, and nearly 60 ministers. Let each of them send their own sons to join the Nigerian Army.” The military has yet to issue an official statement, despite calls from the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre for his release and respect for his rights.
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