A Nigerian soldier has reportedly been arrested following the circulation of a viral video in which he passionately called on governors, senators, ministers, and other political office holders to send their sons to join the and fight terrorists alongside ordinary citizens.
The video, which has generated widespread reactions across social media, captured the visibly emotional serviceman lamenting the continuous loss of his colleagues in the ongoing counter-terrorism operations across the country.
In the footage, the soldier expressed deep frustration over what he described as the heavy toll the conflict has taken on troops at the frontlines.
“The way I dey lose my colleagues, it is getting to things wey be say e dey comot tears for my eye day by day. In this country, we have 36 governors, we have like 109 senators, even ministers, we have like almost 60,” he said.
(The way I keep losing my colleagues is reaching a point where it brings tears to my eyes every day. In this country, we have 36 governors, about 109 senators, nearly 60 ministers.)
He continued:
“We have House of Representatives, chairmen of local governments – 774. Let each one of them bring their son to join the Nigerian Army.”
(We have members of the House of Representatives, and 774 local government chairmen. Let each of them send their own son to join the Nigerian Army.)
The soldier’s remarks were widely interpreted as a direct appeal for shared sacrifice and national responsibility, particularly from members of the political class whose children are rarely seen on the frontlines of the country’s security battles.
While official confirmation of the arrest remains limited at the time of filing this report, sources indicate that the soldier may have been detained for allegedly breaching military conduct regulations regarding public commentary and political statements by serving personnel.
The development has sparked mixed reactions among Nigerians. Some citizens have described the soldier’s statement as a heartfelt expression of frustration from the battlefield, while others note that members of the armed forces are bound by strict rules governing public speech and political neutrality.
Security analysts observe that the viral video underscores growing public concern over the prolonged fight against insurgency and terrorism, as well as the human cost borne largely by rank-and-file soldiers.
As of press time, authorities have yet to issue a detailed statement clarifying the circumstances surrounding the reported arrest.
