Dismissed Soldier Challenges Army To Publish Payroll, Displays Bank Alerts

A dismissed Nigerian soldier, Rotimi Olamilekan, popularly known as Soja Boi, has challenged the Nigerian Army to make its payroll public while presenting bank transaction alerts he claimed prove that soldiers earn modest wages and often purchase their own protective equipment.

.....

Naija News reports that Olamilekan, a former lance corporal with service number 18NA/77/1009, made the claims in a video posted on Tuesday, hours after the Army dismissed his earlier allegations as false.

In the video, Olamilekan said he was not trying to tarnish the image of the military but was simply sharing his experiences.

“I am not trying to spoil the Nigerian Army’s image or make people look at them as if they are not good. But I am just speaking the facts and I will be backing them with evidence,” he said.

He then displayed three bank transaction alerts, which he said were payments he received while still in service.

According to Olamilekan, one of the alerts dated February 2, 2026, showed a credit of ₦112,061.59, which he described as his monthly salary.

Another alert dated February 4, 2026, indicated a ₦20,000 credit, which he identified as a “grumbling allowance.”

Screenshot of the payment receipt of N20,000. Photo: Soja Boy Giran President

A third alert dated November 4, 2025, showed a credit of ₦45,000, which he said was an operational allowance paid to soldiers deployed to conflict areas such as Maiduguri.

Screenshot of the payment receipt of N45,000. Photo: Soja Boy Giran President

He also claimed that soldiers receive an additional ₦6,000 security allowance.

“If you are not in operation, they don’t pay you that one. If you go on operation, they will pay you,” he said while explaining the operational allowance.

Olamilekan added that soldiers stationed in barracks receive only their salary and the ₦20,000 allowance.

“If you are doing barracks duty, you are only entitled to your salary and that ₦20,000,” he said.

The former soldier also maintained his earlier claim that soldiers often buy personal protective equipment themselves.

“Helmet, you go buy. Fragmentation jacket, you go buy them,” he alleged.

He urged Nigerians with relatives in the military to verify his claims.

“I know so many people who would want to say these things but don’t know how to. Call your brother, call your sister, and ask them if I am lying,” he said.

He further challenged the Army to release its payroll records.

“If they say I am lying, they should bring out their payroll. How much are they paying soldiers?” he said.

Army Dismisses Allegations

Earlier on Tuesday, the Nigerian Army dismissed Olamilekan’s claims, describing them as baseless.

In a statement by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Appolonia Anaele, the Army said uniforms, kits, arms and protective gear are provided to all personnel through established logistics systems.

The military also insisted that no soldier is deployed to operational theatres without adequate protection.

However, it noted that some personnel may choose to supplement their kits voluntarily.

On remuneration, the Army said soldiers receive consolidated monthly salaries, in addition to uniform allowances, operational allowances and other mission-specific entitlements paid directly into their bank accounts.

Olamilekan first gained public attention in February 2026 after a viral video in which he challenged governors, senators and ministers to send their children to serve in the Army.

He was later arrested, reportedly spent his birthday in detention, and was subsequently dismissed from the service.

The Army said his dismissal was due to repeated acts of indiscipline, including violations of the Armed Forces Social Media Policy and unauthorised media appearances, insisting that the action was unrelated to the content of his videos.