Fawaz Adebisi
A Nigerian Army soldier has been detained after posting a viral video calling on governors, senators, ministers, and local government chairmen to enlist their sons in the military to fight terrorism and banditry.
Lance Corporal Rotimi Olamilekan (service number 18NA/77/1009 LCPL), attached to the 81 Division Task Force Battalion in Maiduguri, Borno State, was reportedly arrested on February 11, 2026, by fellow officers and later transferred to Army Headquarters in Abuja.
Sources told PLATFORM TIMES that Olamilekan was held briefly in a cell in Maiduguri before his relocation.
It was further gathered that the soldier was initially denied the opportunity to inform his family of his detention, though he managed to ask colleagues to notify his elderly mother. Since his arrest, Olamilekan has allegedly been denied access to legal counsel.
In the Facebook video that triggered his arrest, Olamilekan lamented the heavy losses suffered by the military in counter-insurgency operations and urged top government officials to have their sons join the army. Speaking in Pidgin English, he said:
“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, about 109 senators, nearly 60 ministers, members of the House of Representatives, and 774 local government chairmen. Let each one of them bring their son to join the Nigerian Army.”
Sources said Olamilekan has spent over four years and eight months in Maiduguri participating in counter-insurgency operations without promotion or additional benefits.
Attempts to reach the Nigerian Army spokesperson, Col. Appolonia Anele, for comment were unsuccessful as she did not respond to messages sent by PLATFORM TIMES.
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