The Nigerian Army has broken its silence on the controversial dismissal of former soldier Rotimi Olamilekan, popularly known as Soja Boi, insisting that his removal had nothing to do with his viral video criticizing political leaders.
Olamilekan first gained nationwide attention in February 2026 after a video surfaced online in which he called on Nigerian politicians to send their children into the military to experience the realities faced by ordinary soldiers.
“Let each of them bring their sons to join the Nigerian Army… so they can witness what we go through,” he said in the clip that quickly went viral.
The video struck a chord with many Nigerians and sparked massive support online, leading to the trending #FreeSojaBoi campaign after reports emerged that he had been detained.
Following his release in March, Olamilekan maintained that the video was the reason behind his dismissal, claiming he was punished for “speaking the truth.”
However, in a new statement issued by Army spokesperson Appolonia Anele, the military strongly denied those claims.
According to the Army, Olamilekan was dismissed due to repeated acts of indiscipline and violations of military regulations — not his public comments.
The statement outlined several alleged infractions, including:
•Unauthorized media appearances
•Commercial use of military identity
•Partisan content creation
•Misuse of military uniform
The Army emphasized that its actions followed due process under the Armed Forces Act, stressing that discipline remains a core value of the institution.
It also warned Nigerians against spreading what it described as “false narratives,” stating that such claims could undermine troop morale and public confidence in the military.
Despite the clarification, the situation continues to divide opinions online. While some Nigerians believe the Army’s explanation, others remain skeptical, insisting the viral video may have played a bigger role than admitted.
As the debate rages on, one thing is clear — the story of Soja Boi is far from over.
