Viral soldier who asked politicians’ sons to join Army dismissed after months in detention

A Nigerian soldier, Lance Corporal Rotimi Olamilekan, has opened up on his arrest, detention, and eventual dismissal from the Nigerian Army after he made a viral video calling on politicians to allow their children join the military to fight terrorism.

In a fresh narration shared online, Olamilekan alleged that he endured months of humiliation, harsh treatment, and denial of basic rights following his arrest.

According to Olamilekan, his ordeal began after he recorded and shared a video last year urging ministers, governors, lawmakers, and local government chairmen to send their sons to the battlefield.

He said he was arrested directly from his duty post in the North-East, where he had been deployed for several years.

“I was arrested because of the video I made, saying politicians should send their sons into the army to fight terrorists,” he stated, adding that he was handcuffed and treated like a criminal during the operation.

The dismissed soldier revealed that he had spent about four years and nine months in a remote bush location in Maiduguri without relief or recognition.

He explained that the prolonged deployment took a toll on him, especially as he witnessed the loss of several colleagues during operations against insurgents.

Reflecting on his service, Olamilekan insisted he had maintained a clean disciplinary record since joining the army in 2018.

“I have never been charged before. I never fought anyone, never stole, and never engaged in misconduct,” he said.

Following his arrest, Olamilekan said he was moved between multiple detention centres, including a military guardroom in Maiduguri and a facility in Abuja.

He claimed he spent over a month in detention in the capital, where he was allegedly kept in handcuffs on both his legs and hands.

“They moved me from Maiduguri to Abuja and back again. I was still locked up as if I had committed a serious crime,” he recounted.

Olamilekan also accused authorities of subjecting him to degrading conditions during detention.

He claimed he was fed poorly, received limited meals daily, and was denied access to his phone or contact with his family and legal representatives.

“I really suffered. The feeding was just twice a day and not enough. I couldn’t talk to anyone because they collected my phone,” he alleged.

The former soldier said he was later formally charged with multiple offences but was not given adequate opportunity to defend himself.

According to him, his dismissal was announced after the charges were read out, which he described as shocking and unfair.

“It shows that in our country, we don’t have freedom of speech. I never expected this,” he lamented.

Olamilekan further revealed that he was publicly marched out of the barracks after his dismissal, an experience he described as painful and humiliating.

He noted that he was taken to another military division before being expelled from the premises as a dismissed soldier.

“It is so sad. After eight years of service, this is how my career ended,” he said.

The dismissed lance corporal has now appealed to Nigerians and civil society organisations to support his quest for justice.

He maintained that his viral message was motivated by concern over the increasing loss of soldiers on the battlefield.

“I don’t have anyone to fight for me, but I believe God will fight for me. I want people to stand for me because this is not right,” he said.

“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,”

— Lance Corporal Rotimi Olamilekan breaks his silence after being dismissed over a video he posted on his social media… https://t.co/Q44WGF7ZyB pic.twitter.com/iQERkFEBAz

— CHUKS 🍥 (@ChuksEricE) March 25, 2026