NIGERIAN soldiers of the 152 battalion for Operation Hadi Kai in the Northeast region have accused their Commanding Officer, Brigadier General AD Aliyu, of abuse of power and encroachment of their rights.
The soldiers cry out over unpaid allowance and shortage of food.
They expressed their grievances to the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Defence Staff, Theatre Commander and the General Commanding Officer of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, while calling for urgent help.
The soldiers say that the food been served is barely enough and they eat meat only once in a month.
They also complain that, in order to see their families, they have to bribe their way to get welfare passes and medication has been made unavailable to them by the force.
“We are recognised as soldiers with loyalty, obedience, discipline, dedication and service,” an unidentified soldier disclosed.
“We are soldiers that are ready to protect our beloved country by all course even in the valley of death.
“We are the soldiers sacrificing our today for our beloved country’s tomorrow.
“We are crying out with pain because of discouragement and demoralization of our morale and fighting spirit due to the bad treatment we are facing from our commander.
“How can a soldier who has spent all his life fighting the enemy not be given good food to have the strength to stand and fight well?
“Yes, sometimes in the bush, the quality of the food doesn’t matter but let it be edible. We can manage, but here, no quality, no quantity. You can eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at once and still not be satisfied. We eat meat once a month, soldiers buy medicine due to poor medication.
“Soldiers pay bribes to get welfare passes to get out of the bush and see their families.
“The CO (Commanding Officer) also failed to pay soldiers picketing allowance for two months in the name of wanting to buy equipment. Meanwhile, nothing has been bought to date.
“Due to lack of maintenance, soldiers on patrol mostly push the gun truck back to the camp.
“Delay and failure to pay habit allowance while other units are paid.
“We know we don’t have freedom of speech and things like this should not be broadcast on social media, but we have no means to convey our heart cry to the ASA, it’s not easy for troops down here.
“We are pleading with the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Theatre Commander, 7 DIV GOC to look into our condition,” the soldier went on.