By: Manoah Kikekon
LAGOS, NIGERIA — The ongoing war of words between the Nigerian Army and dismissed soldier Rotimi Olamilekan , popularly known as Soja Boi, escalated on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. In a bold move, the former Lance Corporal released bank transaction alerts to the public, challenging military authorities to disprove his claims regarding poor remuneration and the self-funding of combat gear.
The development follows an official statement by the Nigerian Army which labeled Olamilekan’s earlier allegations as "false and misleading." Unfazed, the former soldier (service number 18NA/77/1009) took to social media to provide what he calls "irrefutable evidence."
In a viral video, Olamilekan displayed three specific transaction alerts from his time in service to illustrate the financial reality of a Nigerian soldier.
Monthly Salary: A credit of N112,061.59 dated February 2, 2026, with the narration “NIC-ARMY AC.”
Grumbling Allowance: A N20,000 payment dated February 4, 2026, via a CBN RTGS inflow.
Operational Allowance: A N45,000 credit from November 2025, which he claimed is only paid to personnel in active combat zones like Maiduguri.
"If you are doing barracks duty, you are only entitled to your salary and that N20,000," Olamilekan stated. He further noted that while some claim the N20,000 allowance has been increased, he could only speak to the figures reflected in his personal records.
Beyond the pay, Soja Boi doubled down on his claim that soldiers are frequently forced to dip into their modest earnings to stay safe on the front lines. He alleged that essential protective equipment, such as helmets and fragmentation jackets, are often purchased privately by personnel.
“I am not trying to spoil the Nigerian Army’s image,” Olamilekan clarified. “But I am just speaking the facts. Call your brother, call your sister in the military, and ask them if I am lying.”
He concluded with a direct challenge to the military high command: “If they say I am lying, they should bring out their payroll. How much are they paying soldiers?”
The Nigerian Army, through its Acting Director of Public Relations, Appolonia Anaele, has maintained that these claims are baseless. The military insists that its logistics system provides all necessary uniforms, kits, and arms to personnel.
While the Army acknowledged that some soldiers might "supplement" their kits with personal purchases, it described such actions as strictly voluntary and not a result of any systemic failure in the supply chain.
While the first receipt shown by Olamilekan carries a narration linked to the Army, the other two totalling N65,000 originated from sources like "Skystone Finance" and general CBN inflows, which do not explicitly name the Army as the payer.