A dismissed Nigerian soldier, Rotimi Olamilekan, has challenged the Nigerian Army to make its payroll public as controversy intensifies over his claims about the welfare and remuneration of military personnel.
Olamilekan, popularly known as Soja Boi and formerly a lance corporal, made the demand in a video posted on Tuesday, hours after the Army dismissed his earlier statements as false and misleading.
In the video, he displayed what he described as bank transaction alerts showing payments he received during his time in service.
According to him, one alert showed a monthly salary of N112,061.59, while another reflected a N20,000 “grumbling allowance.”
He also pointed to a N45,000 operational allowance, which he said is paid only to soldiers deployed to active conflict areas such as Maiduguri, and a N6,000 security allowance.
“I have been seeing some trends online about the interview I granted, and I noticed that the Nigerian Army has countered it, saying it is false. It is not as if I am trying to damage the image of the Nigerian Army or make it look bad. No. I am simply stating the facts, and I will back them up with evidence,” he said.
Explaining the payment structure, Olamilekan said operational allowances are not paid to personnel who are not deployed to combat zones.
“This receipt is my salary. The second one is the N20,000 I mentioned. There is another one, the operational allowance. If you are in Maiduguri or deployed there, that is when you receive it. If you are not on operation, you will not be paid that allowance,” he said.
“The one you can see above is N45,000. There is also another one, a cigarette allowance, which is N6,000. Both the operational and cigarette allowances are only paid when you are on operation.”
He also alleged that some soldiers are compelled to purchase personal protective equipment, including helmets and fragmentation jackets, with their own funds.
“So, if they say I am lying about the issue of uniforms, if you have a friend or relative in the Army, call them and ask whether I am telling the truth,” he added.
Despite the controversy, Olamilekan insisted his intention was not to tarnish the image of the military but to present what he described as factual information supported by evidence, urging Nigerians to verify his claims through relatives or acquaintances serving in the armed forces.
