Nigerian soldiers deployed in the ongoing fight against Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East have raised serious allegations against their commander, claiming he is withholding their much-needed operation allowances.
The troops, operating under Operation Hadin Kai, spoke out in exclusive interviews, describing how they remain in the bush battling terrorists while struggling without the funds meant to support them.
They say the allowance, calculated at N1,500 per day and totaling around N46,500 monthly, is supposed to help them live more comfortably amid the harsh conditions—but payments have become irregular and, in many cases, completely skipped.
“Ever since he took over from our COAS Chief of Army Staff Major General Wahidi Shuaib, our operation allowance has been skipping till now,” one soldier told SaharaReporters, identifying the officer in charge as the Theatre Commander, referred to as “TC Theater Commander Major General Abubakar.
”The affected personnel stressed that the allowance covers not just soldiers but also mobile police officers and members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) involved in the joint operation.
They described the money as small but vital, insisting it goes a long way in easing the burdens of prolonged deployments far from home.Frustrated troops have appealed for urgent intervention from higher authorities, warning that the continued non-payment could further erode morale among those risking their lives daily in counter-insurgency efforts.
Some even claimed that attempts to complain have been met with threats from army officials.This is not an isolated grievance. In September 2025, similar complaints surfaced about non-payment of allowances and poor salaries across the Nigerian Army, with calls for a review under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Efforts to get a response from the Nigerian Army were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to Lieutenant Colonel Onyechi Appolonia Anele, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, went unanswered.The allegations come at a time when the North-East remains a volatile theater, with Boko Haram and splinter groups like ISWAP continuing to launch attacks despite years of military campaigns.
Such welfare issues have long been cited as factors affecting troop effectiveness and morale in the prolonged insurgency.As the soldiers press for resolution, the incident highlights persistent challenges in sustaining frontline forces in one of Nigeria’s most enduring security battles.
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