March 3, 2026 | SUNTV Global Channel | News
A Nigerian soldier serving in the North-East has reportedly been detained after a video surfaced online in which he urged governors, lawmakers, and other political office holders to allow their children enlist in the Nigerian Army and join the fight against insurgency.
The soldier, identified as Lance Corporal Rotimi Olamilekan (service number 18NA/77/1009 LCPL), is said to be attached to the 81 Division Task Force Battalion in Maiduguri, Borno State. Sources familiar with the development told reporters that he was arrested on February 11, 2026, following a directive allegedly issued for his transfer to Army Headquarters in Abuja.
According to the sources, Olamilekan was apprehended by fellow officers at his duty post in Maiduguri and briefly held in a military cell before being moved to Abuja. It was further gathered that he was not formally allowed to notify his family about his arrest, although he reportedly asked colleagues to inform his elderly mother of his transfer.
As of the time of filing this report, concerns have been raised that the detained soldier has not been granted access to legal representation.
The arrest reportedly followed a video posted on his Facebook page in which he emotionally appealed to political leaders across Nigeria to demonstrate solidarity with troops on the frontlines by encouraging their sons to join the military.
In the now-viral clip, the lance corporal lamented the loss of fellow soldiers in ongoing counter-insurgency operations. Speaking in Pidgin English, he said the frequent casualties among troops had become deeply distressing.
“The way I dey lose my colleagues, it is getting to the point wey e dey bring tears to my eyes every day,” he said, calling on Nigeria’s 36 governors, members of the National Assembly, ministers, and the 774 local government chairmen to allow their children serve in the armed forces.
He argued that shared sacrifice would strengthen morale among troops battling insurgency and banditry across the country.
Sources also disclosed that Olamilekan has spent approximately four years and eight months in Maiduguri participating in counter-insurgency operations without promotion or additional allowances.
Efforts to reach the Nigerian Army’s spokesperson, Colonel Appolonia Anele, for official comment were unsuccessful as calls and text messages were not responded to at the time of publication.
The development has sparked conversations on social media about freedom of expression within the armed forces and the welfare of soldiers engaged in prolonged security operations.
SUNTV Global Channel will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more details emerge.
