Nigerian Army sacks soldier over social media post on troops’ feeding

By Ayorinde Oluokun

The Nigerian Army has dismissed a soldier identified as Umar Jamiu for allegedly circulating what it described as false social media posts about poor feeding of troops involved in battle against terrorists in Northeast Nigeria.

The sack of the soldier, a private, was confirmed in a statement by the spokesperson of Headquarters Theatre Command, Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba on Saturday.

According to the statement, the soldier was sacked after it was confirmed that his social media publications alleging poor feeding of troops within the Theatre of Operation was false.

Uba said the soldier was taken through disciplinary measures in line with the provisions of the Armed Forces Act (Cap A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004).

“Sanctions were duly applied to the personnel involved, in order to uphold discipline and preserve the integrity of the Armed Forces,* he said.

“The Theatre Command wishes to categorically state that the images and narratives being circulated are misleading and do not reflect the actual feeding arrangements or welfare standards of troops in the North East Theatre”

“For the avoidance of doubt, troops deployed across all formations and locations under Operation HADIN KAI are provided with rations strictly in accordance with approved military feeding scales. These provisions are consistently implemented and, where operational conditions permit, are further enhanced during special periods such as Sallah and Easter celebrations to boost morale and welfare,” Uba said.

The Army further asserted in the statement that the feeding system within the Theatre is structured, accountable, and soldier-driven.

“It is managed through established Food Committees comprising personnel across various ranks, and presided over by. senior non-commissioned officers. This arrangement ensures transparency, participation, and continuous oversight in menu planning, preparation, and distribution of meals, within available logistical resources.

“In the course of the review, a specific incident was identified involving a personnel who deliberately circulated a misleading image of a partially consumed meal, intended to create a false impression of troop feeding conditions. Investigations confirmed that the image did not represent the complete ration issued to the individual at the time.

“The Theatre Command wishes to reassure members of the public that the welfare of troops remains a top priority. While operations in the North East present significant logistical and environmental challenges, consistent efforts are made to ensure that personnel are adequately catered for, even under demanding field conditions.

“Troops are further encouraged to utilise established internal channels for the timely resolution of grievances, rather than resorting to actions capable of misrepresenting operational realities or undermining unit cohesion and morale.

The Army also urged members of the public to disregard unverified content circulating on social media, and to rely on credible and officially verified information.

“The spread of misinformation by individuals or groups seeking attention or financial gain undermines ongoing military operations and the collective national security effort.

“It is therefore important to state that Operation HADIN KAI remains fully committed to its constitutional mandate of restoring lasting peace , security and economic stability in the North East region, with the welfare, discipline, and operational effectiveness of its personnel as core priorities,” Uba said.