Lance Corporal Rotimi Olamilekan, a Nigerian soldier recently dismissed from the army, has broken his silence on the ordeal that followed his viral call for politicians’ children to serve in the military. The soldier, who spent nearly five years in a remote northeastern post, described months of humiliation, harsh treatment, and denial of basic rights.
“I was arrested because of a video I made asking ministers, governors, and local government chairmen to send their sons to fight terrorists,” Olamilekan said, recalling how he was handcuffed like a criminal and transferred across multiple military facilities in Borno State and Abuja. “They treated me as if I had stolen or killed someone.”
During his detention, Olamilekan said he endured minimal food, no contact with family, and prolonged confinement in handcuffs. He was later formally charged, though he claims he was not given a fair chance to defend himself. “I was dismissed from the regiment just because of a video I made,” he said, expressing shock at the outcome and lamenting the state of free speech in Nigeria.
Despite the dismissal, Olamilekan emphasized his clean record and years of dedicated service. “Since I joined the army in 2018, I’ve never been charged. I’ve never fought, stolen, or killed anyone. But speaking the truth online got me dismissed,” he said. He also reflected on his long deployment in Maiduguri, where he felt unrecognized and unsupported.
The soldier urged Nigerians and civil society groups to support his quest for justice. “I don’t have anyone to fight for me, but I know God will. I want people to stand for me because this is not right,” he said.
Olamilekan first went viral after an emotional video in which he lamented the loss of fellow soldiers and implored top government officials to send their children to the frontlines. Speaking in Pidgin English, he highlighted the sheer scale of leadership in Nigeria and the sacrifices of ordinary soldiers. “With 36 governors, 109 senators, nearly 60 ministers, House members, and 774 local government chairmen, let each one bring their son to the Nigerian Army,” he urged, calling for shared accountability in the fight against insurgency and banditry.
This revelation casts a stark light on the challenges faced by rank-and-file soldiers and raises questions about accountability, fairness, and freedom of expression within the military.
