Police Officer Recorded The Video, Soldiers Are Not Poorly Fed – Army

The Nigerian Army has debunked claims that military personnel in Yobe State are poorly fed.

Naija News reports that a viral video shows a man displaying the small portion of semo he received, lamenting that soldiers in Kanama, Yobe State, were being inadequately fed with poor meals.

However, reacting in a statement on Thursday, the Director of Army Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, said an investigation launched into the matter revealed that the individual complaining about soldiers being poorly fed in Yobe State is not a military personnel.

Onyema said no personnel in that area were served with substandard meals, stressing that the Nigerian Army does not joke with the welfare of its personnel on the frontline.

Onyema added that a police officer recorded the video and shared it online with an ulterior motive.

He said, “The Nigerian Army has taken note of a viral video on social media alleging that soldiers of 159 Battalion in Kanama, Geidam Local Government, are being poorly fed.

“Sequel to the viral video, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, ordered an investigation headed by the Commander Sector 2 Operation HADIN KAI to ascertain the veracity of the claim to address any problem of poor feeding in the unit.

“Following the findings of the investigation, it is crucial to clarify that the video in question was not created by soldiers of 159 Battalion, but was rather recorded by a police officer stationed with the troops deployed in Geidam. Contrary to the claim made in the video, no personnel in that location was served substandard meals as shown in the video. 

“Preliminary investigation has also revealed that the police officer who recorded and shared the video did so with an ulterior motive yet to be uncovered by the investigation. It is anticipated to be unravelled during further investigation.

“It is expedient to unambiguously state that the leadership of the Nigerian Army places a premium on the welfare and well-being of troops and their families to ensure that they are adequately rewarded and motivated.“