A dismissed soldier, Rotimi Olamilekan, popularly known as Soja Boi, has challenged the Nigerian Army to make its payroll public, as he presented bank transaction alerts to support his claims about soldiers’ earnings and welfare.
Olamilekan, a former lance corporal, made the remarks in a video shared online shortly after the Army dismissed his earlier allegations as false.
Clarifying his intentions, he said his claims were not aimed at discrediting the military institution.
“I am not trying to spoil the Nigerian Army’s image or make people look at them as if they are not good. I am only stating facts and backing them with evidence,” he said.
In the video, he displayed three bank alerts which he said reflected payments received during his service. One of the alerts showed a credit of over ₦112,000, which he described as his monthly salary. Another indicated a ₦20,000 payment, which he identified as an allowance, while a third showed ₦45,000, which he said was an operational allowance for personnel deployed to conflict zones.
Explaining further, he noted that some allowances were not permanent.
“If you are not in operation, they don’t pay you that one. If you go on operation, they will pay you,” he said.
He added that personnel stationed within barracks typically earned less.
“If you are doing barracks duty, you are only entitled to your salary and that ₦20,000,” he stated.
Olamilekan also reiterated his earlier claim that soldiers often purchase personal protective gear themselves, including helmets and fragmentation jackets.
“Helmet, you go buy. Fragmentation jacket, you go buy them,” he said.
He urged Nigerians with relatives in the military to verify his claims independently.
“Call your brother, call your sister, and ask them if I am lying,” he said.
Daring the military authorities, he added, “If they say I am lying, they should bring out their payroll. How much are they paying soldiers?”
However, the authenticity of the receipts could not be independently verified, and the transaction alerts did not clearly identify official military payment sources beyond limited references.
The Nigerian Army had earlier rejected Olamilekan’s allegations, insisting that all personnel are adequately equipped through official logistics channels.
In a statement, the Army maintained that uniforms, kits and protective gear are provided to soldiers and that no one is deployed without necessary equipment. It added that while some personnel may choose to acquire additional items, such decisions are voluntary.
On remuneration, the Army explained that soldiers receive consolidated salaries alongside various allowances, including operational and mission-specific entitlements paid directly into their accounts.
Olamilekan first gained public attention earlier in 2026 after a viral video in which he urged political leaders to allow their children serve in the military. He was later arrested, detained, and subsequently dismissed.
The Army said his dismissal was due to acts of indiscipline, including violations of its social media policy and unauthorised public engagements, stressing that the decision was not connected to the content of his claims.
