The Nigerian Army has sanctioned a soldier serving under Operation Hadin Kai in the North-East over allegations that he shared “misleading” information on social media about the quality of food being served to troops on the frontline.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Media Information Officer for the Joint Task Force North-East, Lt. Col. Sanni Uba, said an internal investigation was carried out after a viral post surfaced online showing what was described as poor feeding conditions within the theatre of operations.
According to him, the military high command reviewed the claims and concluded that they did not reflect the actual welfare situation of troops deployed in the region.
“Theatre Command wishes to categorically state that the images and narratives being circulated are misleading and do not reflect the actual feeding arrangements or welfare standards of troops in the North East Theatre,” the statement read.
Uba explained that the image shared by the soldier was only a partial representation and did not show the full ration provided at the time. He maintained that troops under Operation Hadin Kai are fed according to approved standards and established procedures.
He added that feeding arrangements are managed through internal committees made up of personnel across different ranks to ensure proper oversight and accountability.
“Troops deployed across formations under Operation Hadin Kai are fed in line with approved standards. These provisions are consistently implemented and, where operational conditions permit, are further enhanced during special periods such as Sallah and Easter celebrations to boost morale and welfare,” he said.
The Army further noted that the matter was handled internally in line with the Armed Forces Act, confirming that disciplinary action was taken against the soldier involved.
“Investigations confirmed that the image did not represent the complete ration issued to the individual at the time. Accordingly, the matter was addressed through appropriate disciplinary measures in line with the provisions of the Armed Forces Act,” Uba stated.
He added that the action was taken to maintain discipline and preserve the integrity of the Armed Forces.
The statement also urged personnel to make use of internal grievance channels rather than resorting to social media, warning that such actions could undermine morale and operational cohesion.
“Troops are encouraged to utilise established internal channels for the timely resolution of grievances, rather than resorting to actions capable of misrepresenting operational realities or undermining unit cohesion and morale,” it added.
However, concerns over troop welfare in the North-East have persisted over the years, with periodic reports and videos emerging online in which soldiers complain about poor rations, delayed allowances, and inadequate field equipment while engaged in counter-insurgency operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP.
Despite these recurring complaints, the Army insists that welfare remains a priority, describing negative reports as exaggerated or misrepresented, and attributing them to individuals seeking attention or misinformation.
