The Joint Task Force overseeing counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria’s North-East has pushed back against a viral social media video alleging unpaid allowances and the victimisation of a soldier, calling the claims false and a deliberate attempt to undermine the military.
Headquarters Theatre Command, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), issued a statement Friday dismissing the video’s allegations as “misleading” and an effort to “discredit the military command structure.”
“The claims contained in the video are false, misleading, and a deliberate attempt to misinform the public,” the Command said in a statement signed by its Media Information Officer, Lt. Col. Sani Uba.
The Command clarified that the money referenced in the video was not operational allowance, as implied, but rather an additional incentive tied to troops providing security at a critical national asset in Tuba, a payment that is only disbursed when funds are available.
According to the statement, all standard entitlements, including Ration Cash Allowance, Operational Allowance, and Habit Allowance, have been paid in full to all troops “up to date as of May 2026, with no outstanding issues.”
The Command explained that the disputed payment was originally the responsibility of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which covered the allowance while it maintained exploration activities in the area. When NNPC ceased operations, the payments stopped. The Borno State Government subsequently stepped in, and efforts are ongoing to bring troops under the same payment plan currently covering the Police and Volunteer Forces in the region.
The statement said the affected soldier raised the concern directly during an operational visit. “The soldier presented the matter to Brigadier General Solomon Diwa, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, who assured personnel that he would liaise with the relevant authorities to ensure payment once funds were released,” it read.
The Command firmly rejected claims that the soldier faced any form of retaliation. “The allegation that the soldier was intimidated or punished is entirely unfounded,” it said, adding that the Nigerian Army remains “steadfast in its commitment to the welfare and fair treatment of its personnel.”
Investigators found that the soldier did not produce the video. Instead, the Command attributed it to “a mischievous content creator known for publishing material based on information from a few disgruntled individuals,” describing the act as “unpatriotic.”
The Command warned that spreading such content may violate the Nigerian Armed Forces’ social media policy governing how personnel engage with digital platforms on operational matters. It said measures are in place to address any breaches.
“The Theatre Command urges media organisations and the public to refrain from disseminating unverified or misleading information, particularly on sensitive military operations,” the statement said. “Such actions risk undermining troop morale and jeopardising national security efforts.”
Operation HADIN KAI is the Nigerian military’s primary counter-insurgency mission in the North-East, tasked with combating Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents across the Lake Chad Basin region. #Securitynewsalert.com
