Soldiers well fed, not served poor meals- Nigerian Army

In reaction to the video circulating online about an individual complaining about soldiers being poorly fed in Yobe state, the Nigerian army has reacted claiming the person is not a military personnel, and the video shared carries ulterior motives.

The video shows the man displaying a small portion of semo he received, lamenting that soldiers in Kanama, Yobe State, were being inadequately fed with poor meals.

However, reacting in a statement on Thursday, the Director, Army Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, said the authorities immediately launched an investigation into the matter.

According to the director, the investigation revealed that the person in the viral video was not its personnel, He said, “The Nigerian Army has taken note of a viral video on social media alleging that soldiers of 159 Battalion in Kanama, Geidam Local Government, are being poorly fed.

“Sequel to the viral video, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, ordered an investigation headed by the Commander Sector 2 Operation HADIN KAI to ascertain the veracity of the claim to address any problem of poor feeding in the unit.

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“Following the findings of the investigation, it is crucial to clarify that the video in question was not created by soldiers of 159 Battalion, but was rather recorded by a police officer stationed with the troops deployed in Geidam. Contrary to the claim made in the video, no personnel in that location was served substandard meals as shown in the video.”

Onyema said the police officer made the video and shared it online with an ulterior motive. He stated that the Nigerian Army doesn’t joke with the welfare of its personnel on the frontline.

In his words he said, “Preliminary investigation has also revealed that the police officer who recorded and shared the video did so with an ulterior motive yet to be uncovered by the investigation. It is anticipated to be unravelled during further investigation.

“It is expedient to unambiguously state that the leadership of the Nigerian Army places a premium on the welfare and well-being of troops and their families to ensure that they are adequately rewarded and motivated.

“The COAS has continued to show undeniable passion and commitment to the well-being of soldiers, particularly those deployed on the frontlines, where they are making priceless sacrifices in defence of the nation and ensuring the safety and security of the citizens.

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“This is evident in the several welfare schemes created and currently implemented by the COAS. These include an increase in the Ration Cash Allowance, prompt medical evacuation of wounded in action soldiers for both foreign and local treatments and commencement of payment of the backlog of the Group Life Insurance Scheme that had accumulated since 2012. Affordable House Ownership Option for all Soldiers with the COAS offsetting about 60 percent of the cost, and the activation of Personnel Insurance Scheme payments to soldiers who incur injury in combat operations.

“These are aside from massive revamping and equipping of Nigerian Army Reference Hospitals and other medical facilities across formations and units of the Nigerian Army to cater for the health of personnel and their families and the ongoing renovation of old and construction of new accommodations for soldiers and their families in various Nigerian Army Cantonments and Barracks.” the Army concluded.